UNITAR: SAICM and NanoOliver Wootton

9-10 July 2015, ILO HQ, Geneva, Switzerland

Improving Workers Health Through Sustainable Management of Chemicals Trade Unions Towards 2020 workshop

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Part A: UNITAR’s broad work under SAICM

Part B: UNITAR’s work on nano, a SAICM emerging policy issue

UNITAR, SAICM and Nano

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UNITAR is a strong supporter of work under SAICM, in collaboration with the IOMC

• The Chemicals and Waste Management Programme provides support to SAICM stakeholders

• Project activities take place within the framework of implementing international agreements

• Current areas of focus for training and capacity building - GHS, PRTR, Mercury, Nanotechnology, Basel Ban Amendment, POPs

“UNITAR activities worldwide – SAICM”Prezi available at:https://prezi.com/sak8nmbjcbrl/unitar-activities-worldwide-saicm/

Part A: UNITAR’s broad work under SAICM

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UNITAR has benefitted from and contributed to the success of the Quick Start Programme:

73 QSP projects executed by UNITAR, mainly on SAICM implementation plans

Part A: UNITAR’s broad work under SAICM

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Short intro: UNITAR and GHS

Purpose of the GHS

The Global Partnership for Capacity Building to Implement the GHS was launched by UNITAR, ILO, and OECD in 2002. UNITAR helps to provide training on:• the development of situation/gap analyses• national GHS implementation strategies• legislation• chemical hazard classification• labelling• safety data sheets (SDS)

National and regional projects

E-learning course on GHS

UNITAR produces guidance on Understanding the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS)

Part A: UNITAR’s broad work under SAICM

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• Nano adopted as an “emerging policy issue’’ within SAICM context at ICCM-2, May 2009

• Resolution III/2E of the third International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM3) invited: “relevant international organizations, such as UNITAR, to ... develop guidance and training materials, and … enhance stakeholder capacity for the sound management of nanotechnologies and manufactured nanomaterials.”

• UNITAR and OECD act as “lead agencies’’

• Significant support has been and continues to be provided by the Government of Switzerland

Part B: UNITAR’s nano work; SAICM emerging policy issue

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Worker Health and Safety – the UNITAR guidance document

• Workers are one of the most exposed groups and understanding is still being developed.

• Toxicological laboratory studies in animals have shown a wide range of biological activity resulting from exposures to some nanomaterials.

• ISO published its first safety and health standard in September 2008 and has been developing standards aimed at specifying protocols for exposure measurements, control banding, and exposure mitigation.

• The OECD‘s WPMN publications: including guidance on emission assessment, guidance on use of personal protective equipment, a review of OECD test guidance, and guidance for nanomaterial handling in laboratories.

• The WPMN also developed guidance for nanomaterial handling in laboratories and conducted a sponsorship program for toxicity and ecotoxicity testing on selected manufactured nanomaterials.

• P.52 of UNITAR guidance document provides an example of a list of protective measures for workers (Switzerland, SUVA 2009)

Part B: UNITAR’s nano work; SAICM emerging policy issue

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Nano work so far-

Phase one, from 2009:• Regional workshops• Nano pilot projects- 3 countries

Phase two, after ICCM3 (2012):• Regional workshops• Nano pilot projects- 3 countries

E-learning- Introduction to Nanomaterials Safety :• Nano course took place in two rounds during 2014, as an

introduction to the science and policy of nano• A new round to be launched in 2015

Development of the Guidance for Developing a National Nanotechnology Policy and Programme • Available in English, Russian and Spanish

Part B: UNITAR’s nano work; SAICM emerging policy issue

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The future-

ICCM4 nano resolution – essentially re-affirming what was agreed at ICCM3

Elements for a draft resolution on nanotechnologies and nanomaterials for consideration by ICCM4

• Reaffirms resolutions from ICCM2 and ICCM3

• facilitating the exchange of information [for example through an appropriate clearing house mechanism]

• developing international technical and regulatory guidance

• welcoming the work of the UN sub-committee on GHS and encouraging it to continue its efforts.

Part B: UNITAR’s nano work; SAICM emerging policy issue

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The future-

ICCM4 nano resolution – essentially affirming what was agreed at ICCM3

Draft resolution (continued)

• to continue raising awareness and enhance capacity

• Encourages use of the guidance for the Development of a National Nanotechnology Policy and Programme developed by UNITAR

• Engagement of all Strategic Approach stakeholders, the IOMC in particular the UNITAR and OECD as well as WHO and ILO

• Invites all stakeholders, as appropriate, to provide resources for further work in this area

• Requests the secretariat in coordination with the relevant stakeholders to report on progress

Part B: UNITAR’s nano work; SAICM emerging policy issue

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The future-

Two important process to take note of:

1. A GHS informal correspondence group:a. to establish whether there is a need to amend the GHS

to make clear that nano-forms of a substance are within scope of the GHS

b. to review the classification and labelling criteria in the GHS to establish whether they are appropriate for nano

c. the envisaged workstreams and the possible developments of the group for the GHS are long-term processes;

d. to continue the work on reviewing the applicability of the GHS classification criteria to nanomaterials during the biennium 2015-2016.

Part B: UNITAR’s nano work; SAICM emerging policy issue

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The future-

Two important process to take note of:

2. Developing WHO Guidelines for Protecting Workers from Potential Risks of Manufactured Nanomaterials:

a. Guidelines necessary as;i. the risks of nanomaterials have not been fully evaluatedii. information is not available in an equal and equitable

manner iii. need to provide the same level of protection to workers

dealing with nanomaterials across the worldb. One of the co-chairs of the process is from ETUIc. Still in development with plans to release in the

coming years

Part B: UNITAR’s nano work; SAICM emerging policy issue

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The future-

UNITAR is committed to working with national, regional, and global

partners to help address challenges related to nano. Training and

research services under consideration (resources permitting) include:

Implementation of additional nano country projects, regional projects, e-

learning courses, establishing regional networks of experts

Undertaking national situation assessments to establish the importance of nano

Training and knowledge-sharing on nano regulations and legislation

Implementing GHS, should it be found relevant to nano

Enhanced dissemination of information, including through an appropriate

clearing house 

Part B: UNITAR’s nano work; SAICM emerging policy issue

Palais des Nations

1211 Geneva 10

Switzerland

T +41 22 917 8400

F +41 22 917 8047

www.unitar.org

United Nations Institute for Training and ResearchInstitut des Nations Unies pour la Formation et la RechercheInstituto de las Naciones Unidas para Formación Profesional e InvestigacionesУчебньıй и научно-исследовательский институтОрганизации Объединенньıх Наций

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Thank you www.unitar.org/cwm

oliver.wootton@unitar.org