GHS, International Chemicals Management

and the MDGs

13 May 2008

Abuja, Nigeria

Regional GHS Workshop for Countries of ECOWAS

GHS and Chemicals Management

Chemicals are a part of every aspect of our lives;

They have positive and negative effects;

GHS can serve as a tool for: National integrated chemicals management; Commitments to apply MEAs: (Stockholm,

Rotterdam, Basel Conventions etc.); Commitments to Regional initiatives: (Basel

Convention Regional Centres); Commitments to ECOWAS regional objectives

International Agreements: Hazardous Chemicals and Waste

SAICM

Århus Convention Basel Convention Chemical Weapons FAO Code (revised) GHS ILO Convention 170

ILO Convention 174 Rotterdam Convention Stockholm Convention Vienna Convention UN Convention

Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotics

(Regional Seas Conventions)

(UNECEs LRTAP-POPs Protocol)

GHS and SAICM

The importance of implementing the GHS is recognised in the Overarching Policy Strategy (OPS) of SAICM, where implementation of the GHS is identified under the overall objective of “knowledge and information”

GHS also included as a SAICM work area in the Global Plan of Action

Article 13: exported PIC chemicals subject to labelling requirements that ensure adequate availability of information with regard to risks and/or hazards to human health or the environment, taking into account relevant international standards

Requires Parties to ensure that chemicals used for occupational purposes have a safety data sheet that follows an internationally recognized format

The Convention provides the opportunity for parties to take responsibility for exported chemicals by allowing them to require that chemicals subject to national environmental or health labelling requirements (not just PIC chemicals) are exported subject to labelling requirements taking into account relevant international standards

The references to an “international standard” and format for labels and SDS are references to the GHS

The GHS and the Rotterdam Convention

The Stockholm Convention underlines “the importance of manufacturers of persistent organic pollutants taking responsibility for reducing adverse effects caused by their products and for providing information to users, governments and the public on the hazardous properties of those chemicals” (preamble)

Article 10 on “Public information, awareness and education,” encourages parties to use safety data sheets, reports, mass media and other means of communication

As with the Rotterdam Convention, countries may use the GHS as a basis for the information to be provided on the characteristics of the chemicals, as well as for a format for communication tools such as SDS

The GHS and the Stockholm Convention

GHS and Basel Convention

Application of GHS to chemical waste

Define hazardous characteristics of wastes under the Basel Convention while satisfying the needs of both international instruments

Article 4.7 (b) Require that hazardous wastes and other wastes that are subject of a transboundary movement be packaged, labelled, and transported in conformity with generally accepted and recognized international rules and standards in the field of packaging, labelling, and transport, and that due account is taken of relevant internationally recognized practices;”

Basel/GHS Correspondence Group

GHS and Industry

ILO Convention 170 and Recomm. 177 Responsibilities of authorities, suppliers,

employees, workers; Classification systems: labelling, SDS; Specific measure for hazardous chemicals Information and training, emergencies; Monitoring and reporting.

GHS and Agriculture

FAO International Code of Conduct on Distribution and Use of Pesticides (1989, rev. 2002) Labelling, packaging, storage, disposal; Responsibilities of govt., industry, applicators etc

FAO Guidelines on Good Labelling Practice for Pesticides Development of pictograms, hazard classification

GHS & Agriculture (contd.) ILO Convention 184 and

Recommendation 192 on Safety & Health in Agriculture Classification, packaging, labelling,

information

WHO Recommended Classification of Pesticides by Hazard & Guidelines to Classification Acute risk to health/hazard

classification/toxicity; transportation rules/competent authorities

GHS & International Chemicals AgreementsPossible Criteria for Entry Points

A search for common objectives1. Linkages

Encouraging opportunities for co-operative actions;

2. Clustering Establishing joint implementations of

chemicals and waste MEAs: increases information flows/visibility;

3. Synergy Co-operation of two or more initiatives to

produce effects greater than the sum of individual effects: results in enhanced coherence of policies/strategies

Sound Management of Chemicals and Sustainable Development

Integrating Chemicals Mgt and Development

Potential for both positive and negative impacts

Basic elements of national infrastructure for chemicals management can allow countries to maximize benefits and minimize hazards

Chemicals can then contribute to sustainable development

What is mainstreaming?

Mainstreaming is the integration of sound management of chemicals (SMC) into national development planning processes.

Benefits of integration

Raised awareness and enhanced buy-in from government and key stakeholders, including national development planning agencies

Strengthened focus on improved cross-sectoral governance for sound chemicals management at national and local levels (i.e. rather than addressing chemicals on a chemical-by-chemical or chemical class basis exclusively)

Increased access to national resources More effectively addressing concerns of

international donors and securing funding

Why is mainstreaming important?

Critical for attracting national and international support for the sound mgt of chemicals (SMC)

National development planning is what defines national budgets and donor support, so chemicals should be included

More donor assistance flows through mainstream development issues

Therefore, Relate SMC to the big picture!

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

Commit the international community to an expanded vision of development, one that:

vigorously promotes human development as the key to sustaining social and economic progress in all countries

recognizes the importance of creating a global partnership for development

At international level MDGs are the guiding principles

Linkages between MDGs and chemicals issues *

MDG 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger

The poor are at a higher risk of exposure to toxic and hazardous chemicals due to their occupations, living locations, and lack of knowledge about chemicals

Sound chemicals management can improve their living environment (and consequently their health) and help increase their revenue (e.g. proper pesticide use can boost crop yields and protect the productivity of freshwater and marine fisheries)

* Source: UNDP. Toolkit for Incorporating the Sound Management of Chemicals in MDG-based Policies and Plans

Linkages between MDGs and chemicals issues *

MDG 2: Achieve universal primary education

Knowledge of science at primary level will lay the foundation for secondary and tertiary levels

Awareness raising about, for example, chemical safety issues, in particular in rural, agricultural areas, can reduce the occurrence of chemical-related accidents

Linkages between MDGs and chemicals issues *

MDG 3: Promote gender equality and empower women

Women, being the primary caretakers, food producers, food preparers, and gatherers of fuel used in the household, are disproportionately affected by indoor air pollution, and water/food-borne illnesses

Women's empowerment and knowledge of proper use of pesticides, their storage, handling, and disposal of chemicals within the home can help protect themselves and their families' environment

Linkages between MDGs and chemicals issues *

MDG 4: Reduce child mortality

Chemical, preventive and curative (pharmaceuticals) play a major role in vector borne diseases, such as malaria (which is the number one cause for child mortality in Africa)

Children may be exposed to chemicals through agricultural work, in their homes, and their living environment

Sound chemicals management combined with better nutrition can improve children's learning and living conditions, decrease their sensitivity to chemicals, and reduce child mortality

Linkages between MDGs and chemicals issues *

MDG 5: Improve maternal health

Certain types of chemicals can build up to dangerous levels in humans causing adverse reproductive, developmental, immunological, hormonal, and carcinogenic effects

Women can pass as much as 1/5 of their toxic burden to their infant children, both prenatally and after birth (breastfeeding)

Improved chemicals management can lower a woman's risk of contamination, improve maternal health, and therefore the health of future generations

Linkages between MDGs and chemicals issues *

MDG 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases

Malarial prophylactics, prevention and other chemical products (e.g. treated mosquito bed nets) prevent millions of deaths worldwide from this disease

Chemicals (medications) are helping to control HIV/AIDS and prevent mother-to-child transmission

Linkages between MDGs and chemicals issues *

MDG 7: Ensure environmental sustainability

Chemicals can contribute to global warming, ozone depletion, and climate change, and can be major contributors to environmental degradation through the contamination of (drinking) water, soil, air, and flora and fauna

Sound chemicals management can help prevent and/or minimise harmful chemicals from entering the environment and reduces the need for difficult and costly environmental remediation

Linkages between MDGs and chemicals issues *

MDG 8: Global partnership for development

International cooperation and coordination efforts towards improved chemicals management such as SAICM and chemicals-related MEAs create global partnerships, efforts, and initiatives that help countries in integrating sound chemicals management objectives into national and local development policies and plans

GHS & Sustainable Development UN Millennium Development Goals Task Force

emphasized the process of integrating principles of SD into all policies:

Goal 7, refers: ‘ensure environmental sustainability’;

Recommendation 5 Reduce exposure to toxic chemicals/vulnerable groups

stressed, i.e. women, children, the poor; Improve frameworks for chemicals management;

Recommendation 9 Public awareness campaigns

GHS & Sustainable Development Linkages

GHS addresses Recommendation 5 and 9 of MDG 7, being a practical inclusive tool mainstreaming commitments to SD

GHS is increasingly seen as an essential feature of the development process.

GHS with its hazard awareness system, communication & educational component is a major driver of chemical safety;

Conclusions GHS within an integrated chemicals

management regime can lead to more effective national and global chemicals & waste governance

GHS in coordination with International Chemicals Agreements is an essential component for achieving MDGs and SD.

What should you do?: Involve development, planning and finance ministries

in national chemicals management!