Caribbean Workshop

1. SAICM Quick Start Programme (QSP)Strategic Priority BMatthew Gubb, Coordinator, SAICM secretariat Caribbean Workshop on SAICM and related chemicals and hazardous waste management instruments Bridgetown, Barbados, 10-13 March 2009

2. Contents • About QSP Priority B • Existing QSP projects addressing priority B • MEAs • IHR • PRTRs • GHS • Conclusion and contact information

3. What is QSP Priority B? • QSP aims to mobilize resources for national priority initial enabling activities, in particular: b) Development and strengthening of national chemicals management institutions, plans, programmes and activities to implement SAICM, building upon work conducted to implement international chemicals-related agreements and initiatives.

4. International chemicals-related agreements and initiatives (1) • International agreements provide a legal framework under which to address common concerns and/or transboundary issues. • Examples include the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal, the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade, the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutant, the International Health Regulations, the International Labour Organization Convention 170 on Safety in the Use of Chemicals at Work, the International Maritime Organization Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships and the Vienna Convention on the Protection of the Ozone Layer and its Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.

5. International chemicals-related agreements and initiatives (2) • In addition to such legal instruments, there are voluntary international initiatives emanating from intergovernmental processes. • Examples include the International Code of Conduct on the Distribution and Use of Pesticides developed under the auspices of the Food and Agriculture Organization and the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals developed by the United Nations Economic and Social Council's Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods.

6. EC ACP MEAs project support • European Commission (EC) is providing Euro 1.95 million to enhance capacities of African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries to implement their obligations and commitments under chemicals-related MEAs thereby resulting in environmentally sound management of chemicals in all sectors, including agriculture, environment, health, labour and industry. • The support will be provided through the SAICM Quick Start Programme (QSP) trust fund. • Interested ACP countries can submit QSP project proposals relating to MEA implementation. The standard rules on QSP Trust Fund eligibility will apply to these applications.

7. Links to MEAs: Basel Convention • The Basel Convention COP has encouraged Parties to use the QSP to support Convention implementation. • Possible activities may include, for example: • Developing or strengthening national waste and chemicals management programmes or activities; • Research for risk reduction strategies in relation to hazardous waste; • Regional collaboration on illegal trafficking in hazardous waste.

8. QSP project related to MEAs: Basel Convention example • Strengthening the legislative, regulatory and enforcement capacity of SIDS in the Caribbean in Trinidad & Tobago-Secretariat of Basel Convention/BCRC: • The project aims to strengthen the legislative, regulatory and enforcement capacity of Trinidad and Tobago to comply with its international obligations under the Basel Convention and, to the extent appropriate, the Stockholm Convention. • Activities include the undertaking of gaps and needs analyses, the reinforcement of the regulatory framework and legislative measures and the strengthening of enforcement and implementation capacities.

9. Links to MEAs: Rotterdam Convention example • The Rotterdam Convention COP has encouraged Parties to use the QSP to support Convention implementation. • Possible activities may include strengthening governance, policy and legislation, undertaking training and research, such as • SAICM action plan development, building upon PIC Action Plans; • Developing or strengthening national pesticides and chemicals management programmes or activities; • Research for risk reduction strategies; • Regional projects on illegal trafficking.

10. QSP project related to MEAs: Rotterdam Convention • Capacity Building and Awareness Raising Programmes on the Implementation of the Rotterdam Convention in Thailand: • Based on priorities identified in Thailand’s National Strategic Plan on Chemical Management and the National Action Plan for the Implementation of the Rotterdam Convention. • Training of customs and border control officials to monitor and control imports and exports of chemicals. • Awareness-raising activities on the Rotterdam Convention aimed at industrial and agricultural associations and local communities. • Capacity building on reporting on severely hazardous pesticide formulations to relevant Government agencies. • Outreach activities would target local communities, including farmers, teachers and students, auditors and regulators in product inspection, to promote the safe use of pesticides and good agricultural practices.

11. Links to MEAs: Stockholm Convention • Possible activities may relate to • Priorities identified in NIPs; • National and regional/multi country projects; • Activities may relate to data gathering and sampling (effectiveness evaluation), development of POPs and or chemicals management policies and legislation, training and awareness-raising, inventories of contaminated sites, etc.

12. QSP project related to MEAs: Stockholm Convention example • Capacity building for POPs laboratories in Cuba under multilateral environmental agreements (Cuba-UNEP): • Objective of the project is to strengthen laboratory and POPs analysis capacities in order to meet obligations for the implementation of MEAs, in particular the Stockholm Convention. • Initial identification of national laboratories of different sectors capable of analyzing POPs data, as well as an assessment of national needs for data will be provided. • Training materials and sampling strategies for collection and analysis will be prepared. • Targeted laboratories will receive necessary equipment spares and consumables, and staff will be trained according to international standards. • The results of analysis will be used for the Global Monitoring Plan for the first effectiveness evaluation of the Stockholm Convention, but also to implement guidelines for the low POP content established under the Basel Convention, and will enable initial activities for the establishment of a future National Monitoring System.

13. QSP project related to International Health Regulations • Strengthening the capacity in Côte d’Ivoire to control the transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and chemicals in the context of the Basel Convention, the International Health Regulations (IHR) and other relevant MEAs (Côte d’Ivoire – Secretariat of Basel Conventon) • identify gaps and needs of legislative and regulatory measures and institutional capacity to monitor and control chemicals and hazardous wastes. • draft implementing legislation and regulatory measures to address the gaps and needs identified. • Develop training materials to raise awareness of ports authorities and relevant agencies engaged, in particular those involved in the enforcement of the Basel Convention, the IHR and relevant MEAs, including MARPOL.

14. QSP project related to PRTRs • Strengthening Capacities for Developing a National Pollutant and Release Transfer Register (PRTR) and Supporting SAICM Implementation in Georgia (Georgia-UNITAR): • Design PRTR, including by identifying objectives, assessing infrastructures, conducting a pilot reporting trial, preparing a PRTR proposal and organizing a review and implementation workshop. • Undertake capacity building activities of civil society, initially through an awareness-raising workshop to increase participation in the PRTR design process and gathering of data, as well as SAICM implementation in general. • Undertake an outreach campaign to inform of the PRTR development process, including its benefits to the Government, industry, and the general public.

15. QSP project related to GHS • Strengthening Capacities for SAICM Implementation and Supporting Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) Capacity Building in Zambia (Zambia-UNITAR): • analyse the status of chemical hazard classification and communication and GHS implementation at the national level, and to contribute to SAICM implementation. • Undertake activities for the development of a national GHS standard. • Update and implement an existing national standard on transport of dangerous goods would be updated and implemented, including by the training of trainers in the four modes of transport (road, rail, water and air) and public awareness activities on the standard. • training of relevant technical and policy experts from government, industry and public interest groups with the aim of promoting the GHS and discussing steps and roles in its implementation. • Prepare a draft national GHS implementation strategy that cover goals, activities and implementation mechanisms in the four relevant sectors. • Organize a national GHS workshop to provide opportunity for stakeholders discuss GHS implementation issues and to agree to the national GHS implementation strategy.

16. Conclusion • The QSP provides opportunities for projects related to international chemicals-related agreements and initiatives. • QSP funds are available to support MEA implementation on an ongoing basis, in accordance with QSP strategic priority B. • Around US$2.5 million from European Commission has been specifically allocated for MEA-related QSP projects in African, Caribbean and Pacific countries. • Engage with IGOs, Convention Secretariats or SAICM secretariat if needed. • Visit www.saicm.org for further information and application materials.

17. Contacts and information Please visit the SAICM web site at: www.saicm.org or contact: SAICM secretariat, c/o Chemicals Branch, UNEP/DTIE, 11-13 chemin des Anémones, CH-1219 Châtelaine, Geneva, Switzerland, Tel +41 22 917 8160, Fax +41 22 797 3460 E-mail saicm@chemicals.unep.ch