SADC and GHS

Sunnyside Park Hotel Parktown, J’burg, SA

By samuel f banda15-18 nov. 2005

Meeting to discuss GHS

December 2003,Livingstone, Zambia

Reviewed GHS status- country wise.

First SADC GHS meeting

SADC

1 of 8 AU Regional Economic Communities

HQ, Gaborone, Botswana

Goal to bring about sound economic integration for SD

SADC Features

High integration of economies Common transport network Inter-reliance of industries Heavily dependent on SA economy

SADC Secretariat

Functions via 4 directorates– SHDSP –Social and Hum. Dev. and Special Programs

– TIFI – Trade, Industry, Finance and Investment – IS – Infrastracture and Services

– FANR- Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources

Directorates and GHS

Labor and Consumer related SHDSP Agro-based FANR Transport-based IS Industry, Trade TIFI

Steps to GHS Implementation

Most countries have assessed their capacity to implement GHS.(SA and CT done)

Through NP most countries have undertaken reviews on type, quantities of chemical production

SADC Code of Practice emphasizes on safe use of chemicals: An essential platform for GHS Implementation.

SADC Legal Framework/Mechanism

Operational forum is via– Regional indicative strategic dev. Plan (RISDP)– SADC treaty (Trade, transport, Communication

and Meteorology, Code of Practice)– Southern and Eastern African Regulatory

Committee on Harmonization (SEARCH) of registration of pesticides.

Need for Harmonization!!!

Single region economy Strengthening of SADC machinery Provision of common strategies on GHS Provides ownership of the GHS by SADC Transport sector already harmonized

GHS - transport

GHS -Pictograms

!

Forgotten Stakeholders

Chemical producing companies in the region– Essential on chemical properties (carcinogenicity,

mutagenic, toxicological effects)

SADC Challenges in GHS

Multiple signal words be to integrated into GHS’s “Danger and Warning”

Integration of Symbol some shapes from triangle/rectangles to GHS Rhombuses

Uniformize Precautionary warning pictograms (esp. in Agriculture)

Enforcement difficulties- national and cross border. Movement of waste, (Hazardous, radioactive,

nuclear) shall require GHS intervention!!! Landfills and other emitters of flammable gases shall

require GHS intervention!!!

THANK YOU