NATIONAL SAICM IMPLEMENTATION: DEVELOPING A GOVERNANCE FRAMEWORK

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NATIONAL SAICM IMPLEMENTATION DEVELOPING A
GOVERNANCE FRAMEWORK
THE CASE OF JAMAICA

• Gillian Guthrie
• Ministry of Local Government and Environment
• June 19, 2006

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SAICM So What?

• The formal adoption of SAICM has raised
• the profile of chemicals and hazardous
• wastes management issues at all levels
• local, national, sub-regional, regional and
• international.
• SAICM has facilitated an integrated,
• multi-sectoral, cross-sectoral and
• participatory approach to chemicals
• management.

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• SAICM implementation will allow for the
• protection of the environment and most
• vulnerable within our societies from the
• adverse impacts of chemicals
• SAICM promotes the sound management of
• chemicals throughout the product life cycle
• cradle-to-grave and cradle-to-cradle

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Jamaicas Integrated National Programme (INP) for
Chemicals and Hazardous Wastes Management

• In seeking to fulfill the objectives outlined in
  the OPS of
• SAICM, Jamaica has developed the Integrated
  National
• Programme (INP) for the Sound Management of
  Chemicals
• and Hazardous Wastes in Jamaica (2005 2010).
• The development of the INP included
• National Priority Setting Exercise
• Identification of national priority chemicals and
  hazardous wastes management areas of focus
• Establishment of an inter-agency coordination
  mechanism (IACM) and an information exchange
  mechanism
• Mechanisms for the sustainable financing of the
  INP

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INP National Information Exchange
Mechanism

• In relation to SAICM implementation, the main
  national information exchange mechanisms are
• Inter-Agency Coordination Mechanism
• National chemical safety website
• (www.chemicalsafety.gov.jm)

- National Chemicals Profile
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INP Priority Areas

• Five (5) Priority Areas identified for attention
  under the
• INP were
• Chemical Wastes Disposal (Ministry of Land and
• Environment)
• Comprehensive Chemicals Legislation (Ministry of
• Health)
• Import/Export Control (Jamaica Customs
  Department)
• Integrated Emergency Response Mechanism (Office
  of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency
• Management), and
• Risk Management Procedures (Ministry of Health)

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Inter-Agency Coordination Mechanism (IACM)

• IACM comprises
• Members (key ministries and agencies directly
• responsible for chemicals and/or hazardous
  wastes
• management)
• Associate Members, and
• Secretariat
• The IACM reports to the Natural Resources
  Committee of Cabinet.

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Some responsibilities of the IACM

• identify and recommend national chemical
  management
• priorities for cooperative action
• review legislative and institutional frameworks
  governing
• chemicals and hazardous waste management and
  make
• recommendations to address deficiencies and
  duplication
• coordinate national negotiating positions in
  respect of
• regional and international agreements
• identify emerging policy issues and recommend
  strategies
• to address these issues
• recommend sustainable financing mechanisms for
  the
• implementation of the INP

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Some responsibilities of the IACM

• - assess capacity building and technical
  cooperation needs
• and recommend appropriate strategies to
  address these
• - promote public and sector-specific education
  and awareness programmes

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SAICM Some Opportunities

• To establish an integrated and coordinated
  governance
• framework to address chemicals issues
• Infuse chemicals and hazardous wastes issues
  into
• national sustainable development and poverty
  reduction
• strategies.
• Establishment of partnerships at all levels
  (sharing of
• resources, experiences and expertise)
• Through the QSP of SAICM, SIDs are one of the
  groups
• recognized for technical and financial support
  to assist in
• the implementation of the enabling phase of
  SAICM.
• Promotion of chemical safety issues

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SAICM Some Opportunities

• Access to relevant scientific and technical
  information
• Include the SAICM Implementation as programme
  area for focus of the CARICOM Secretariat

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SAICM Major Challenges

• sustainable financing mechanisms (cost
  internalization)
• strengthening institutional and regulatory
  frameworks
• (responsive to emerging policy issues)
• monitoring and enforcement capacity
• - expansion of the governance framework to
  include
• issues related to liability and compensation
• technical assistance for SMEs and the informal
  sector to
• assist in restructuring and re-structuring
  (adoption of
• relevant international standards and codes of
  practice)
• public and sector-specific education and
  awareness
• (promotion of SAICM implementation at the
• community level)