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

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MERCOSUR countries are implementing measures relating to the transport of hazardous products
and have accorded priority to GHS implementation. 19 The Andean Community has a draft regulation under
review. Countries have made progress in other areas too: raising awareness; training; setting standards on
the submission of reports and certification; and conducting sectoral studies. Cooperation between
MERCOSUR and the European Union provides for assistance in implementing the GHS (Government of
Argentina, <strong>20</strong>09). According to the Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods and on the
Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals, Nicaragua has worked on an
institutional assessment of existing national capabilities. With regard to GHS implementation of pesticide
certification, the process is in the early stages in the region, as in other developing regions.
The gaps identified in GHS implementation relate to information dissemination about the GHS
and training for government officials and various sectors involved in chemicals registration, control,
management and marketing.
(g)
Heavy metals
Countries in the region have taken measures to reduce mercury pollution and, as stated
previously, have succeeded in removing lead from petrol. <strong>20</strong> The challenge that now remains concerning
lead is to consider its effects throughout the product life cycle and to substitute it with alternatives in
products such as toys and paint. The use of lead in paint is a matter still to be resolved and the
International Conference on Chemicals Management signalled the need to form a global alliance to
promote the phasing out of lead paint and invited UNEP and WHO to act as secretariat. There have been
some noteworthy national initiatives. For example, in <strong>20</strong>08, Brazil introduced legislation setting
maximum lead levels in paints and other coating materials used in construction and in items for use by
children and schools.
An important first step towards mercury control has been the creation of inventories. Chile, Ecuador
and Panama, with the support of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), UNEP and the
United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), have developed pilot inventories with a risk
management plan and have included mercury in the emissions inventory of PRTRs. These pilot inventories
are now being replicated in Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic and future projects are also being
evaluated. Countries in the region are also active participants in the preliminary discussions being held with
a view to creating a legally binding global instrument on mercury.
One of the main sources of mercury pollution in the region is its use in gold mining, particularly
in family and small-scale mining, and this has had a heavy impact on the Amazon Basin, affecting human
health through mercury ingestion from eating fish (IOMC/UNEP, <strong>20</strong>02). Technical alternatives exist that
call for outreach efforts. In developing its National Cleaner Production Policy, Colombia has promoted
technologies for reducing or eliminating mercury use in mining. A number of projects have been carried
out in cooperation with UNEP and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO),
under the Quickstart Programme of the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management.
UNEP is currently developing a database on mercury use in mining. Other mercury-related issues are
mercury use in products (including hospital products) and industrial processes, mercury storage and the
management of mercury waste and contaminated sites.
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<strong>20</strong>
See the proceedings of MERCOSUR Subworking Group 6 (SGT 6), March <strong>20</strong>06.
See [online] http://www.unep.org/transport/pcfv/PDF/MapLACLead-May_<strong>20</strong>10.pdf.