UNITAR/ILO Programme for Capacity Building to Implement the GHS
GHS Review Conference for Southeast Asia
21-23 May 2013
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Mehdia SiariUNITAR
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Overview on UNITAR
International Responsibility on GHS Implementation
UNITAR/ILO GHS Programme
Resources
Conclusion
Outline
Overview on UNITAR
Overview on UNITAR
UNITAR – “Knowledge to Lead”
established in 1965 – autonomous body in the UN system
original focus: UN institutional issues, peace and security issues, and economic and social issues
current training focus around: environment; governance; peace, security and diplomacy; and research
Mission Statement
“To deliver innovative training and conduct research on knowledge systems to develop the capacity of beneficiaries.”
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Overview on UNITAR
UNITAR CWM Mission
To provide legal, institutional and technical support to governments and stakeholders to develop sustainable capacity for managing dangerous chemicals and wastes
Project activities take place within the framework of implementing international agreements aimed at protecting human health and the environment, while ensuring sustainable industrial development and facilitating trade of chemicals
Training is the main tool
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Overview on UNITAR
Active at national, regional and international levels
Developing countries, transition countries, least developed countries special focus (over 100 countries)
Main focus is the delivery of training/capacity development assistance at the national level, to assist countries to meet the huge number of chemicals-related challenges they face
UNITAR CWM’s work relates directly to the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals
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International Responsibility on GHS Implementation
Development of the GHS
International mandate was adopted in the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development:
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“A globally harmonised hazard classification and compatible labelling system, including material safety data sheets and easily understandable symbols, should be available, if feasible, by the year 2000.”
Development of the GHS
Agenda 21 of the UNCED agreements included the mandate, and instructed the developers to build on existing systems
The process ultimately included numerous countries, multiple international organizations, and many stakeholder representatives
The GHS was developed based on consensus among the participants
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What is the GHS based on?
A meeting of experts convened by the ILO identified the following existing systems as the primary basis for the GHS:
Requirements of systems in the United States for the workplace, consumers and pesticides
Requirements of Canada for the workplace, consumers and pesticides
European Union directives for classification and labelling of substances and preparations
The United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods
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Responsibility for GHS Implementation
Internationally, the UN Subcommittee of Experts on the GHS is responsible for the maintenance, updating and promotion of the GHS:
Over 30 countries have jointed the S/C
Observer countries and stakeholders also participate
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International organization responsibilities
International Labor Organization (ILO): Secretariat for the Coordinating Group and the hazard communication work group
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD): Secretariat for health and environmental hazard criteria, including mixtures
United Nations’ Subcommittee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods: Secretariat for physical hazard criteria
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Responsibility for implementing the GHS
The type of international legal instrument the GHS is considered to be is a “non-mandatory recommendation”
The GHS provisions become mandatory in countries or regions that adopt the GHS
Overseeing national or regional implementation is the responsibility of the competent authorities that adopt the GHS provisions. There is no international body that monitors implementation for compliance
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UNITAR/ILO GHS Programme
UNITAR and ILO are the designated focal points for capacity building in the UN ECOSOC Subcommittee of Experts on the GHS (SCEGHS).
Provide:
• Educational, awareness-raising, resource and training materials regarding the GHS
• Guidance on the development of national GHS implementation strategies, legislation, situation/gap analyses, chemical hazards, labelling, safety data sheets (SDS)
• Guidance on related support measures such as comprehensibility testing
Role of UNITAR & ILO in GHS implementation 15
UNITAR/ILO GHS activities
Four programme areas:
1. support of GHS capacity development at the regional and sub-regional levels
2. support of GHS capacity development at the national level
3. development of GHS awareness raising, guidance and training materials
4. supporting activities and services for GHS capacity development
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UNITAR/ILO Approach
GHS Implementation
Industrial Workplaces
Transport AgricultureConsumerProducts
GovernmentBusiness/Industry
Public Interest/Labour
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UNITAR/ILO Project Strategy
Project Coordinating Agency
National GHS Implementation Committee
Lead agencies for four sectors
Lead organizations for business and industry, and public interest and labour
Subcommittees and task forces, as appropriate
Division of responsibilities, activities, timeframes and budgets
New/Current National Activities
China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines (2010-
13) – supported by EU
Barbados, Zambia, The Gambia, Moldova (2010-13) -
supported by SAICM QSPTF
Congo, Chile (2011-2013) Bolivia, Togo, Haiti, DRC,
Jamaica, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Columbia,
Guatemala (2012-14) – supported by SAICM QSPTF
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Previous National Level Activities
Vietnam, Uruguay, Jamaica (2008-09)
Laos, Cambodia (2006-08)
Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand (2005-07)
The Gambia, Nigeria, Senegal (2004-2006)
Sri Lanka, South Africa, Zambia (2001-2003)
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Regional Activities
Barbados, Zambia, The Gambia, Congo (2010-12) – supported by SAICM QSPTF
PR China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, The Philippines (2010-12) – supported by EU
CEE/CA(2006-12)
China/East and Central Asia
(2010)
Arab Region(2006)
ASEAN (2005-7-
13)
ECOWAS (2008)
SADC (2003)
South America (2004)
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WSSD Global GHS Partnership
Launched by UNITAR, ILO, and OECD in 2002
Strengthen capacities at all levels and sectors -- in particular in developing countries
“WSSD Partnerships”: to enable all stakeholders to make a concrete contribution to the outcomes of the WSSD
Meetings of the Partners (2003, 2007)
Resources
Resources Guidance Document on “Developing a National GHS
Implementation Strategy”
Understanding the GHS, The Companion Guide to the GHS Purple Book
GHS Training courses (Basic & Advanced)
E-learning
Regional Workshops
Annual Reports (2002-2010)
GHS Capacity Building Library
Comprehensibility Testing Website
Roster of Experts
Events Page
WSSD Global GHS Partnership
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Resources 25
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Internet Resources
UNITAR/ILO GHS Capacity Building Programme:http://www.unitar.org/cwm/ghs/index.html
WSSD GHS Partnership:
http://www2.unitar.org/cwm/ghs_partnership/index.htm
UNSCEGHS Homepage: www.unece.org/trans/danger/publi/ghs/ghs_welcome_e.html
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Conclusion
Partnership achivments 2002- 2012
94 beneficiary countries 11 regional workshops Over 85 different awareness-raising
materials developed and translated into national and local languages, with more than 65,000 units distributed
Eight peer-reviewed guidance documents and training packages produced and translated into multiple languages
More than 8,000 trained beneficiaries Over US$8 million mobilized
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Thank you!