sustainable development 20 years on from the ... - José Eli da Veiga

141
under the Stockholm Convention to help countries to meet their monitoring commitments, financed by the
Quickstart Programme (QSP) of the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management
(SAICM) and by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). In this connection, Chile and Peru are
conducting a project to implement best practices in the management of PCBs in the mining sector. So far,
12 of the region’s countries have submitted reports on implementation and on the production, import and
export of the POPs listed in the annexes to the Convention. 18
(d)
Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management
The Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM), a policy framework
for promoting chemical safety worldwide by <strong>20</strong><strong>20</strong>, was adopted as part of the Plan of Implementation for
the World Summit on Sustainable Development. The forum is unique in that it includes representatives of
all stakeholders involved in chemicals, on an equal footing and in a participatory framework. A number of
countries have begun to develop national implementation plans for SAICM and have received support
from the Quickstart Programme to fund projects for fostering activities and building capacity in chemicals
management. Parties to Rounds I and II of the Quickstart Programme include: Barbados, Chile, Costa
Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Plurinational State of Bolivia and Trinidad and Tobago.
At the recent Third Latin American and Caribbean Regional Meeting on the Strategic Approach to
International Chemicals Management (Panama City, 2-3 June <strong>20</strong>11), five resolutions were adopted on
nanotechnology and manufactured nanomaterials; hazardous substances within the life cycle of electrical
and electronic equipment; the health sector strategy; lead in paint; and financing SAICM implementation.
(e)
Pollutant release and transfer registers
Pollutant release and transfer registers (PRTRs) are key instruments in ensuring that civil society
has access to information on the management of chemicals and their sources of emission. Since the early
1990s, a number of national and regional organizations have developed systems for collecting and
disseminating data on emissions and transfers of toxic chemicals from industrial facilities.
Since Mexico’s pioneering experience in establishing a PRTR under the North American Free
Trade Agreement (NAFTA), several countries in the region have developed such systems, influenced also
by free-trade agreements such as the agreement between Chile and Canada. As part of the Dominican
Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR), a number of Central
American countries, together with the Dominican Republic, currently benefit from a cooperation
programme with the United States for the <strong>development</strong> of PRTRs. However, in most countries there are
still no comprehensive systems for information access and sharing that are rigorously and systematically
updated (Salinas, <strong>20</strong>07).
(f)
Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals
The Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS), which
was originally established in <strong>20</strong>03 and whose latest edition dates from <strong>20</strong>09, facilitates communication
and action in the event of accidents and allows measures to be taken to protect health and the environment
during chemicals handling, transport and use. GHS implementation calls for initiatives in a variety of
sectors, in particular transport, industry and agrochemicals, as well as for the incorporation of civil society
participation and labour issues.
18
See [online] http://chm.pops.int/Countries/NationalReporting/tabid/254/language/en-US/Default.aspx.