GHS Implementation and Public Interest NGOs

1. GHS Implementation and Public Interest NGOs Pesticide Action Network Philippines

2. It is estimated that there are 25 million cases of pesticide poisoning each year • 80% of all poisonings occur in developing countries where regulatory, health, and education systems are weakest

3. Poor farmers in Asia are literally bathing in potent cocktails of old and dangerous chemicals that are near impossible to use safely under real field conditions; while immediately suffering the signs and symptoms of poisoning. 

4. These pesticides endanger humans, animals and the environment, specially when used improperly or without sufficient knowledge of their effects.

5. The conditions of use in most developing countries make it difficult to guarantee appropriate use.

6. Availability of highly toxic chemicals • Lack of information and knowledge of their hazards • Aggressive marketing by industry • Poverty and illiteracy • Lack of health facilities in the rural areas

7. Importance of GHS Implementation • Preventive measure for the protection of health and the environment • Supports workers’ right to information • Implements the principle of product stewardship and corporate responsibility

8. Role of Public Interest NGOs • Uphold precautionary framework • Ensure that chemical hazard communication has the correct content • Accurate • Understandable • No concealed information • Appropriate to conditions of use in developing countries

9. Activities to Contribute to GHS Implementation • Participation in decision-making with national bodies for the implementation of GHS • Education/training and awareness-raising activities • Monitoring chemical safety data and labels

10. Activities to Contribute to GHS Implementation • Lobbying in the legislative arena • Development of policies • Strengthen implementation of international conventions on chemicals • Development of regional networks for information exchange and capacity building

11. Activities to Contribute to GHS Implementation • Monitoring of compliance to rules and regulations by the industry • Allow NGOs to liason with workers organizations for monitoring of conditions within the workplace • Monitoring of hazard communication practices

12. PAN Phils. Activities • Community-Based Pesticide Action Monitoring (CPAM) • Awareness-raising on health and environmental effects of pesticides • Training on recognition of acute poisoning • Documentation of poisoning incidents, pesticide use, and health profiles of farmers

13. PAN Phils. Activities • Information Exchange Network on Capacity Building for the Sound Management of Chemicals • Web-based information exchange mechanism designed to enhance effective cooperation among countries and organizations which are providing and/or receiving assistance related to sound management of chemicals • PAN Phils serves as the focal point for Public Interest NGOs

14. PAN Phils. Activities • INFOCAP (cont’d) • Facilitates the exchange and public accessibility of information related to chemicals management capacity building • Includes information on interests, activities, materials and needs related to chemicals management capacity building

15. PAN Phils. Activities • International POPs Elimination Project (IPEP) • Southeast Asia Co-Hub • IPEP supports hundreds of NGO Project Activities, in approximately 40 developing countries and countries in transition, all aimed at contributing to country preparations for Stockholm Convention implementation

16. Thank you!