Ministry for the Protection of Natural Resources and Environment of the Republic of Serbia

1. Pilot Project for implementation the Globally Harmonized System for Classification and labeling of Chemicals (GHS) in a European Country in transition: Republic of Serbia (Serbia and Montenegro) Ministry for the Protection of Natural Resources and Environment of the Republic of Serbia

2. Summary • Country Background • Present situation in Serbia and Montenegro regarding chemicals management • Legal framework • Vision • Objectives

3. Country Background • Serbia and Montenegro comprises two republics • Serbia and Montenegro occupies 102’173 square km with a population 10.5 million inhabitants and its economy is in transition

4. Present situation in Serbia and Montenegro regarding chemicals management • Chemical management in Serbia and Montenegro was governed by legal documents on federal and republic level. After new Constitution Law all authorities on chemicals are passed on republic level. • In 2000, an efforts was made to formulate a system for database and initiate a register of dangerous substances • Initial Register of dangerous Substances in the Republic of Serbia is only a first step towards establishment of the chemicals management system and harmonization of our legislation with EU laws. • The second step was made at Ministerial Conference in Kiev when we signed Protocol on Strategic Environmental Assessment to the Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in a Transboundary Context-Espoo Convention and Protocol to Arhus Convention on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers.

5. ILUSTRATION OF DISTRIBUTION OF DANGEROUS SUBSTANCES BY PROCESSES FOR THE TERRITORY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA

7. Legal framework • The basic legislation, apart the Law on Environmental Protection of Serbia (1991), are the Regulation on Methodology for Risk Assessment regarding Chemical Accident and Environmental Pollution, Preventive Measures and Remediation Measures (1994); the Federal Law on the Production of and Trade in Poisons Substances (1995), the Federal Law on the Transport of Hazardous Substances (1990, 1994, 1996, 1999), the Law on Explosive Substances, the Federal Law on Foreign Trade (1992, 1993, 1994); the Federal Custom Act (1992), the Federal Law on Protection against Ionizing Radiation (1996), the Federal Law on Standardization (1996) and related regulations. • Yugoslavia (now Serbia & Montenegro) has ratified a number of conventions addressing in some way chemicals management (Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution and its Protocol-EMEP, Vienna Convention on the Ozone Layer and the Montreal Protocol on Ozone Depleting Substances, International Convention for the Pollution Prevention from Ships, UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Waste and their disposal, Convention on Biological Diversity,…). Recently Serbia and Montenegro signed the POPs Convention and several non-binding documents implemented (on Process Control Measurements, Worker Exposure Measurements, Safety Data Sheets, Best Practice Manuals, etc.). • At Johannesburg Summit, Serbia & Montenegro decided to support treating chemicals as a prioritry, as well as at the Kiev Ministerial Conference Serbia & Montenegro signed two protocols: Strategic Environmental Assessment andPollutant release and Transfer Registers.

8. Vision • Serbia and Montenegro’s main strategic objective is to move forward along with the rest of the region by working towards full reintegration into the international community in the near and medium-term, in the medium-term is achievement of a self-sustaining economy (rapid growth without aid dependence), and accession to the European Union in the long-term. • New environmental framework has been designed to modernize the legal framework, to ensure compliance with EU requirements (for example IPPC-Integrated Prevention & Pollution Control).

9. Objectives • One of the key priorities is to adequately control, trade, transport and use of chemicals and harmful substances. A serious problem regarding the chemical management is the quality and reliability of the information about the quantities and distribution of chemicals and dangerous substances. The upcoming Law on the system of Environmental Protection (waiting for Parliament approval) will be the basis for GHS implementation. The development of sectoral laws on chemicals regarding classification of chemicals and labeling will follow the GHS system.

10. Conclusion • According to the Rio Conference, Johannesburg Summit and Kiev Ministerial Conference, it appears that the system of environmental protection in Serbia (and Montenegro) in 2000 was 30-40 years behind the environmental protection in developed countries. Pilot project for implementation the Globally Harmonized System for Classification and labeling of Chemicals (GHS) what we are looking forward is good instrument to speed up Serbia and Montenegro transition. • At our country there is an urgent need to review the country’s status with regard to national chemicals management (National Profile) will be developed with POP's Enabling Activities GEF funded project what will be performed by UNEP as implementing agency

11. For futher information you can contact our Ministry for the Protection of Natural Resources and Environment of the Republic of Serbia at this address:Republic of Serbia Ministry for the Protection of Natural Resources and Environment 91, Dr Ivana Ribara Str. BelgradePhone: +381 11 15 87 59 ext. 154Fax: +381 11 15 87 93e-mail: brana.andric@ekoserb.sr.gov.yu