GHS, International Chemicals Management and the MDGs

1. GHS, International Chemicals Management and the MDGs 13 May 2008 Abuja, Nigeria Regional GHS Workshop for Countries of ECOWAS

2. 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

3. 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) International Agreements: Hazardous Chemicals and Waste

4. 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

5. The GHS and the Rotterdam Convention • 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

6. The GHS and the Stockholm 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

7. 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

8. 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.

9. 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

10. 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

11. GHS & International Chemicals AgreementsPossible Criteria for Entry Points A search for common objectives 1. 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

12. Sound Management of Chemicals and Sustainable Development

13. 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

14. What is mainstreaming? • Mainstreaming is the integration of sound management of chemicals (SMC) into national development planning processes.

15. 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

16. 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!

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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

27. 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;

28. 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!