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Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) and its implementation

in AlbaniaDr. Lindita Tafaj

Institute of Public HealthDepartment of Environmental Health

Tirana, Albanialtafaj@albmail.com

BASIC TOXICOLOGY COURSE, 28/09.-02.10.2009

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Contents

What is SAICM and what it’s not What’s new at SAICM The development process SAICM implementation worldwide SAICM implementation in Albania

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SAICM

What does SAICM consist of? Dubai Declaration Overarching Policy Strategy Global Plan of Action ICCM resolutions

SAICM development :

The Strategic Approach was mandated by the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) and endorsed by the Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002 and the New York World Summit in September 2005.

It has been developed by a multi-stakeholder Preparatory Committee, co-convened by UNEP, the Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety (IFCS) and the Inter-Organization Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals (IOMC).

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SAICM: What It Is

SAICM is a global policy framework to support efforts to achieve:

By 2020, chemicals should be produced and used in ways that lead to the minimization of significant adverse effects on human health and the environment

SAICM aims to coordinate, catalyse and facilitate

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SAICM: What It’s Not

SAICM is not a legally binding instrument

SAICM is not a new organization

SAICM does not replace existing institutions and mechanisms

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SAICM: What’s New

SAICM builds on previous initiatives. It is notable for its:

broad scope

ambitious goal (the Johannesburg 2020 target)

endorsement at the highest political levels

emphasis on the sound management of chemicals as a sustainable development issue

resource mobilization

formal endorsement or recognition by IGO governing bodies

Relevant chemical agreements

Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade (FAO/UNEP)

International Health Regulations (2005) (WHO) Convention on the Use of White Lead in Painting (ILO) Convention on Safety in the Use of Chemicals at Work (ILO) Vienna Convention on the Protection of the Ozone Layer and the

Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (UNEP)

Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal, and Related Protocol (UNEP)

Convention on Biological Diversity and the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (UNEP)

Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) (UNEP)

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SAICM: Broad Engagement

Over 140 Governments participate with multi-sectoral representation

Around 60 NGOs take part, including public interest groups focussed on the environment and health, trade unions, industry associations and the scientific community

11 IGOs are also full “participants”

Endorsed in International Conference on Chemicals Management, Dubai, February 2006

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SAICM: What It Consists Of

Dubai Declaration on International Chemicals Management (political commitment)

Overarching Policy Strategy (scope, needs, objectives, principles, financial and implementation arrangements)

Global Plan of Action (work areas, activities, actors, timeframes and targets, indicators of progress)

Note also: resolutions of the ICCM 1 and ICCM 2

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SAICM: The Dubai Declaration on International Chemicals Management

Firm commitment to the Strategic Approach and its implementation

“The sound management of chemicals is essential if we are to achieve sustainable development, including the eradication of poverty and disease, the improvement of human health and the environment and the elevation and maintenance of the standard of living in countries at all levels of development.”

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SAICM: Overarching Policy Strategy – OPS (1)

Adopted by “Ministers, heads of delegation and representatives of civil society and private sector”

Structure: Scope Needs Objectives Financial considerations Principles and approaches Implementation arrangements

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SAICM: OPS – Scope (2)

SAICM includes:

a) environmental, economic, social, health and labour aspects of chemical safety;

b) agricultural and industrial chemicals covering chemicals at all stages of their life-cycle, including in products.

SAICM should take due account of instruments and processes that have been developed to date and be flexible enough to deal with new ones without duplicating efforts

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Scope of Chemical MEAs

Chemical ‘coverage’

SAICM:Strategic ApproachTo ChemicalsManagement

Basel Convention:Control Of

Transboundary Movements Of Hazardous Wastes

And Their Disposal

Chemical ‘life cycle’

Specific Chlorinated Compounds

Other chemicals of concern

Trade Waste & disposalProduction Use

Stockholm Convention: Persistent Organic Pollutants

Rotterdam Convention: Prior informed consent

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RotterdamCommittee

GHSCommittee

StockholmCommittee

CWCCommittee

PesticidesCommittee

NationalIFCS Committee

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RotterdamCommittee

GHSCommittee

StockholmCommittee

CWCCommittee

PesticidesCommittee

IFCS Committee

National Co-coordinatingMechanism

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SAICM: OPS – Needs (3)

Since 1992 UNCED (UN Conference on Environment and Development- Rio de Janeiro, Earth Summit) , “much has been done to improve chemicals management”

However, it is recognized that:

Growing gaps between the capacities of different countries to manage chemicals safely

Need to improve synergies between existing instruments and processes

Urgency to assess and manage chemicals more effectively to achieve the 2020 goal

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SAICM: OPS – Objectives (4)

Achieve sound management of chemicals throughout life-cycle by 2020

5 objectives:

Risk reduction

Knowledge and information

Governance

Capacity-building and technical cooperation

Illegal international traffic

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SAICM: OPS – Financial considerations & Principles/Approaches (5)

SAICM financial arrangements include: Actions at the national or sub-national levels

Enhancing industry partnerships

Integration of SAICM objectives into development cooperation

Making more effective use of and building upon existing sources of relevant global funding

Quick Start Programme

Principles and Approaches are:

Existing declarations, agreements, etc. such as Rio Declaration, Agenda 21, Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions

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SAICM: OPS – Implementation Arrangements (6)

Develop national and other SAICM implementation plans (e.g. regional and IGO)

Designate national SAICM focal points

Reviewing SAICM implementation, via:

ICCM meetings

Inter-sessional regional meetings

Bureau / Secretariat

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SAICM: Global Plan of Action (1)

Guidance document to be reviewed and recommended for use when stakeholders implement SAICM

Structured in accordance with 5 main objectives

Divided into 36 work areas, 273 activities, actors, targets / timeframes, indicators of progress, implementation aspects

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SAICM: Global Plan of Action (2)

36 Work Areas 273 Activities

1. Assessment of national chemicals management to identify gaps and prioritize actions

1, 165, 207

2. Human health protection 2-6

3. Children and chemical safety 7-10, 150-153, 245-246

4. Occupational health and safety 11-21, 138-149, 255

5. GHS 22, 99-101, 168, 248-250

6. Highly toxic pesticides – risk management and reduction

23-30, 114-117

7. Pesticide programmes … 31

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SAICM: Global Plan of Action (3)

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SAICM Implementation: Overview

Implementation at national/regional level

Focal points

Quick Start Programme

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SAICM Implementation: National & Regional Levels

Governments are expected to: integrate SAICM into relevant programmes and plans,

consider developing, with relevant stakeholder participation, a national implementation plan

implementing SAICM on an inter-ministerial or inter‑institutional basis

Regional meetings:

Principal mechanism for dialogue and cooperation between ICCM sessions

Role of SAICM Focal Point (national/regional/NGOs)

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SAICM Implementation: Quick Start Programme – QSP (1)

Objective:

Support initial enabling capacity‑building and implementation activities in developing countries, least developed countries, small island developing States and countries with economies in transition

Includes a Trust Fund and multilateral, bilateral and other forms of cooperation

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SAICM Implementation: QSP – Strategic Priorities (2)

National chemical profiles & identification of capacity needs

Strengthening national chemicals management institutions, plans, programmes and activities to implement SAICM (building upon work conducted to implement international chemicals-related agreements)

Undertaking analysis, interagency coordination, and public participation activities to implement SAICM by integrating sound management of chemicals in national strategies

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SAICM:

an ambitious new policy initiative success will depend on stakeholders’

commitment to implementation

“The sound management of chemicals is essential if we are to achieve sustainable development.”

www.saicm.org

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SAICM implementation in Albania

SAICM- National Focal Point nominated, September 2008

National SAICM Priorities Validation Meeting, December 2008

Project “Strengthening Capacities for SAICM Implementation in Albania” prepared for SAICM QSP 6th round, ready for submission

Institutional responsibilities: (1)

Ministry of Economy, Trade and Energy, responsible for all the remain chemicals in the mining sector, metallurgy, chemical and petrochemical industries and other non/food industries.

Ministry of Environment, Forests and Water Administration – responsible for the management of hazardous waste (chemicals)

Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Consumer Protection - – Registration and control of agricultural chemicals (pesticides, fertilizers)

Institutional responsibilities: (2)

Ministry of Health – Management of Chemicals for disinfection, deratization and disinsection (licensing), pharmaceuticals

Ministry of Public Works, Transport and Telecommunication – Urban waste management (hazardous included)

Ministry of Labor and Social Works and Equal Chances – Prevention and control of exposures to chemicals in the working place

Institutional responsibilities: (3)

Other institutions: Agency of Environment and Forestry Institute of Public Health National Agency of Natural Resources Universities

Organizations: UNDP, OSCE, NGOs

Legal framework

Law no 8934 date 5.9.2002 “ On environmental protection” Law no 9108, date 17.7.2003 “On chemical substances and preparations” Law no 9010 date 13.2.2003 “On environmental management of solid

waste’ DCM no 824 date 11.12.2003 “On Classification, Packaging and Labeling of

Hazardous Preparations” Law no 9537 date 18.5.2006 “On hazardous waste management” Law no 9890 date 20.3.2008 “ On amendments of the Law no 8934 date

5.9.2002 “ On environmental protection” Law on Plant Protection, 2008 Regulation on Hospital Waste Management, No. 6, dt.30.11.2007 Order of PM, Nr. 23, date 27.02.2008 “For the constitution of the inter-

institutional group for evidencing and further treatment of the hazardous chemicals in all companies in the ownership of Ministry of Economy, Trade and Energy.

State of Ratification of Convents

Convention/ protocol State of ratification

Year

Stockholm Convention Ratified 2004

Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal

Ratified 1999

The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer

Ratified 1999

Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, PublicParticipation in Decision Making and Access to Justice

Ratified 2000

Helsinki Convention on Transboundary effects of industrial accidents

Ratified 1994

Barcelona Convention for the marine protected areas, 6 protocols

Ratified 2000

QSP- proposal ALBANIA (1)Aims / Activities

1. Prepare a National SAICM Capacity Assessment:

The document will make:

the assessment of the existing capacities in in government and responsible structure covering chemical management

Identify gaps in primary and secondary legislation giving options for an integrated new law in chemicals or dealing with this issue in specific laws.

Enhancer cooperation with business, public and labour organizations, and highlight possible opportunities for specific partnership projects involving government and other stakeholders.

QSP- proposal ALBANIA (2) Aims / Activities

2. Strengthen the national governance structure :

Establishing a formal mechanism for inter-ministerial coordination—Inter-ministerial SAICM Coordination Committee.

Developing a stakeholder involvement policy will address stakeholder involvement at two levels:

(i) the “strategic” level, where the overall relationship between government and stakeholders needs to be defined as they implement SAICM at the national, programmatic level and

(ii) (ii) at the project level—what are the principles for stakeholder involvement within the development and implementation of partnership projects

national chemicals information exchange mechanism on relevant initiatives and activities among the different ministries and stakeholders, such as a National Chemical Safety Website for the national integrated programme

QSP- proposal ALBANIA (3) Aims / Activities

3. Develop a National Chemicals Management Database:

National Chemicals Management Database to regularly record data on chemical production, import, export, and use, as well as on recorded poisonings, chemicals contamination regarding the environment and human health (including contaminated sites), etc.

QSP- proposal ALBANIA (4) Aims / Activities

4. Strengthening the legal framework:

Official endorsement of these enforcement texts through, inter alia, undertaking awareness-raising and capacity building activities to inform all involved stakeholders (customs, tradesmen, other ministries, etc.) about the new national requirements.

QSP- proposal ALBANIA (5) Aims / Activities

5. Update the National Profile

This first update of the Profile since development in 2006 establishes the Profile as “living document”.

Proposals for mainstreaming environmental / Sound Management of Chemicals in development planning processes

Inter-sector cooperation

Reinforcement (rearrangement?) of relevant institutions

Capacity building/strengthening for planning, supervision, monitoring

Completion/ implementation of a comprehensive secondary legislation in accordance with EC directives.

Filling the gap on specific laws covering the chemical management of every field of development.

Strategic Impact Assessment / environmental component incorporation in development priorities for short, medium and long terms.