UNITAR/ILO Programme for Capacity Building to Implement the GHS

GHS Review Conference for Southeast Asia

21-23 May 2013

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Mehdia SiariUNITAR

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Overview on UNITAR

International Responsibility on GHS Implementation

UNITAR/ILO GHS Programme

Resources

Conclusion

Outline

Overview on UNITAR

Overview on UNITAR

UNITAR – “Knowledge to Lead”

established in 1965 – autonomous body in the UN system

original focus: UN institutional issues, peace and security issues, and economic and social issues

current training focus around: environment; governance; peace, security and diplomacy; and research

Mission Statement

“To deliver innovative training and conduct research on knowledge systems to develop the capacity of beneficiaries.”

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Overview on UNITAR

UNITAR CWM Mission

To provide legal, institutional and technical support to governments and stakeholders to develop sustainable capacity for managing dangerous chemicals and wastes

Project activities take place within the framework of implementing international agreements aimed at protecting human health and the environment, while ensuring sustainable industrial development and facilitating trade of chemicals

Training is the main tool

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Overview on UNITAR

Active at national, regional and international levels

Developing countries, transition countries, least developed countries special focus (over 100 countries)

Main focus is the delivery of training/capacity development assistance at the national level, to assist countries to meet the huge number of chemicals-related challenges they face

UNITAR CWM’s work relates directly to the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals

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International Responsibility on GHS Implementation

Development of the GHS

International mandate was adopted in the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development:

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“A globally harmonised hazard classification and compatible labelling system, including material safety data sheets and easily understandable symbols, should be available, if feasible, by the year 2000.”

Development of the GHS

Agenda 21 of the UNCED agreements included the mandate, and instructed the developers to build on existing systems

The process ultimately included numerous countries, multiple international organizations, and many stakeholder representatives

The GHS was developed based on consensus among the participants

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What is the GHS based on?

A meeting of experts convened by the ILO identified the following existing systems as the primary basis for the GHS:

Requirements of systems in the United States for the workplace, consumers and pesticides

Requirements of Canada for the workplace, consumers and pesticides

European Union directives for classification and labelling of substances and preparations

The United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods

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Responsibility for GHS Implementation

Internationally, the UN Subcommittee of Experts on the GHS is responsible for the maintenance, updating and promotion of the GHS:

Over 30 countries have jointed the S/C

Observer countries and stakeholders also participate

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International organization responsibilities

International Labor Organization (ILO): Secretariat for the Coordinating Group and the hazard communication work group

Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD): Secretariat for health and environmental hazard criteria, including mixtures

United Nations’ Subcommittee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods: Secretariat for physical hazard criteria

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Responsibility for implementing the GHS

The type of international legal instrument the GHS is considered to be is a “non-mandatory recommendation”

The GHS provisions become mandatory in countries or regions that adopt the GHS

Overseeing national or regional implementation is the responsibility of the competent authorities that adopt the GHS provisions. There is no international body that monitors implementation for compliance

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UNITAR/ILO GHS Programme

UNITAR and ILO are the designated focal points for capacity building in the UN ECOSOC Subcommittee of Experts on the GHS (SCEGHS).

 Provide:

• Educational, awareness-raising, resource and training materials regarding the GHS

• Guidance on the development of national GHS implementation strategies, legislation, situation/gap analyses, chemical hazards, labelling, safety data sheets (SDS)

• Guidance on related support measures such as comprehensibility testing

Role of UNITAR & ILO in GHS implementation 15

UNITAR/ILO GHS activities

Four programme areas:

1. support of GHS capacity development at the regional and sub-regional levels

2. support of GHS capacity development at the national level

3. development of GHS awareness raising, guidance and training materials

4. supporting activities and services for GHS capacity development

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UNITAR/ILO Approach

GHS Implementation

Industrial Workplaces

Transport AgricultureConsumerProducts

GovernmentBusiness/Industry

Public Interest/Labour

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UNITAR/ILO Project Strategy

Project Coordinating Agency

National GHS Implementation Committee

Lead agencies for four sectors

Lead organizations for business and industry, and public interest and labour

Subcommittees and task forces, as appropriate

Division of responsibilities, activities, timeframes and budgets

New/Current National Activities

China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines (2010-

13) – supported by EU

Barbados, Zambia, The Gambia, Moldova (2010-13) -

supported by SAICM QSPTF

Congo, Chile (2011-2013) Bolivia, Togo, Haiti, DRC,

Jamaica, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Columbia,

Guatemala (2012-14) – supported by SAICM QSPTF

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Previous National Level Activities

Vietnam, Uruguay, Jamaica (2008-09)

Laos, Cambodia (2006-08)

Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand (2005-07)

The Gambia, Nigeria, Senegal (2004-2006)

Sri Lanka, South Africa, Zambia (2001-2003)

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Regional Activities

Barbados, Zambia, The Gambia, Congo (2010-12) – supported by SAICM QSPTF

PR China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, The Philippines (2010-12) – supported by EU

CEE/CA(2006-12)

China/East and Central Asia

(2010)

Arab Region(2006)

ASEAN (2005-7-

13)

ECOWAS (2008)

SADC (2003)

South America (2004)

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WSSD Global GHS Partnership

Launched by UNITAR, ILO, and OECD in 2002

Strengthen capacities at all levels and sectors -- in particular in developing countries

“WSSD Partnerships”: to enable all stakeholders to make a concrete contribution to the outcomes of the WSSD

Meetings of the Partners (2003, 2007)

Resources

Resources Guidance Document on “Developing a National GHS

Implementation Strategy”

Understanding the GHS, The Companion Guide to the GHS Purple Book

GHS Training courses (Basic & Advanced)

E-learning

Regional Workshops

Annual Reports (2002-2010)

GHS Capacity Building Library

Comprehensibility Testing Website

Roster of Experts

Events Page

WSSD Global GHS Partnership

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Resources 25

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Internet Resources

UNITAR/ILO GHS Capacity Building Programme:http://www.unitar.org/cwm/ghs/index.html

WSSD GHS Partnership:

http://www2.unitar.org/cwm/ghs_partnership/index.htm

UNSCEGHS Homepage: www.unece.org/trans/danger/publi/ghs/ghs_welcome_e.html

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Conclusion

Partnership achivments 2002- 2012

94 beneficiary countries  11 regional workshops Over 85 different awareness-raising

materials developed and translated into national and local languages, with more than 65,000 units distributed

 Eight peer-reviewed guidance documents and training packages produced and translated into multiple languages

 More than 8,000 trained beneficiaries  Over US$8 million mobilized

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Thank you!