Classification and labeling of chemicals: NGO Vision on GHS Implementation

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• Classification and labeling of chemicals NGO
  Vision on GHS Implementation
• Dr. O. Speranskaya (Eco-Accord, Russia)
• Dr. M. Burkhanova (FSCI, Tajikistan)

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Why GHS is important

• Toxic chemicals are a real danger for human
  health and the environment.
• People are daily confronted to dangerous products
  (chemicals, pesticides, etc.)
• Production, use, transport and handling of toxic
  chemicals could cause environmental and health
  risks.
• In developing countries national systems of
  labeling are not well developed

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Why GHS is important

• GHS addresses classification of chemicals by
  types of hazard
• GHS regulates harmonized hazard communication of
  chemicals (labels and safety data sheets).
• GHS provides information on physical hazards and
  toxicity from chemicals needed to protect human
  health and the environment during the handling,
  transport and use of toxic chemicals

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GHS implementation

• Affects manufacturers, suppliers, transporters
  and users of chemicals
• Affects more than 60 countries.
• Is progressing around the world including many
  Asian countries.

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Requirements of GHS implementation

• The implementation of GHS has effects on all
  aspects of the chemical industry, including
  production, use, transport, and disposal.
• All products have to comply with the GHS
  requirements.
• GHS implementation will control chemical
  exposures and protect people health and the
  environment.

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Requirements of GHS implementation

• To avoid conflicts with national producers (they
  will have to use GHS for their products if they
  want to be on the global market).
• If all countries implement GHS there will be no
  need to label products twice.
• GHS facilitates international trade - GHS
  provides a basis for harmonization of rules and
  regulations on chemicals at national, regional
  and international levels.

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GHS Implementation in EECCA

• Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia
• Belarus pilot projects within SAICM QSP
• Ukraine pilot projects.
• Russia GHS implemented for international
  transport of dangerous goods
• GHS is implemented through national standards
  applying to the classification and labeling of
  substances and mixtures.
• It is expected that all GHS hazard classes and
  categories of GHS implementation will be raised
  by the "Harmonization of sanitary rules" Working
  Group.

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GHS Implementation in Russia

• The following seven GHS national standards have
  already been approved in Russia
• - Safety Data Sheets (in force since 1 January
  2009)
• Labeling of chemicals. General requirements (in
  force since 1 January 2009)
• - Five standards on Classification
  Classification of chemicals. General
  requirements   Classification of chemicals for
  physical hazards Classification of chemicals for
  health hazards Classification of mixtures for
  environmental hazards Classification of
  chemicals for environmental hazards.

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GHS Implementation in EECCA

• GHS is discussed by the Custom Union of Belarus,
  Kazakhstan and Russia.
• Central Asian countries are thinking to begin
  discussions on this subject and so this workshop
  in very timely for boosting this process.
• A plenty of CA NGOs are the members of IPEN POPs
  network. The informal CA NGOs POPs network was
  established in 2009, in all CA countries SAICM
  seminars were conducted, discussed manual of POPs
  trainings. In Tajikistan our NGO conducted two
  sub regional seminars Management of hazardous
  substances, POPS, P.V.C., pesticides, etc.

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Problems with GHS implementation by countries

• Lack of information on GHS importance, criteria
  and timeline.
• Lack of information about GHS new labeling
  elements (Signal words, Hazard pictograms).
• Information campaign is needed to explain GHS
  labeling elements and pictograms
• Translation of GHS elements into national
  languages is needed

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Cooperation with NGOs

• NGOs initiate information and awareness campaigns
  about GHS elements.
• NGOs play the leading role in providing
  information about GHS to stakeholders.
• NGOs work with industry and governments to adapt
  labels to the new regulation.
• NGOs work with stakeholders to ensure the
  inclusion of the precautionary statements to
  prevent or minimize adverse effects of hazardous
  product exposure to human health.

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IPEN GHS Working Group

• NGOs expectations (from government and industry)
  on GHS implementation.
• Significance of NGO participation in GHS
  implementation.
• Successful implementation of GHS will require
  greater public awareness about chemical hazards
  which could be achieved with increased civil
  society participation and involvement

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IPEN GHS Working Group

• NGOs can provide concrete contributions to GHS
  implementation such as
• What chemicals are
• sources of chemicals
• pollution pathways
• extent of harms that chemicals cause
• how labeling can help
• Specific actions that should be undertaken.

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IPEN GHS Working Group

• NGOs have a demonstrated capacity to participate
  actively in different international chemical
  agreements at the international and national
  levels
• NGO capacity should be enhanced so that as
  effective stakeholders they can help GHS
  implementation proceed more effectively
• To promote the participation of civil society and
  NGOs we need to ensure that country GHS
  implementation approaches are relevant to the
  needs of the civil society and the public in
  general.

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IPEN GHS Working Group

• NGOs have participated in the GHS implementation
  process through
• participating in country GHS implementation
  initiatives 
• attending international meetings
• building capacity amongst themselves and other
  stakeholders
•  

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NGOs roles to promote GHS implementation

• Education campaigns on chemical hazards
  (including GHS) and alternatives to pesticides.
• Policy advocacy and lobbying for GHS
  implementation.
• Increase civil society and farmers rights to
  information.
• Monitoring and documentation of community
  exposure to chemicals and GHS compliance.

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NGOs roles to promote GHS implementation

• Networking among NGOs will
• strengthen the risk elimination efforts
• ensure efficient and wide dissemination of
  information on chemical hazards and safer
  alternatives
• Participate in national and sectoral GHS
  implementation meetings.
• Provide relevant information to competent
  authorities and sectoral groups

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NGOs roles to promote GHS implementation

• Participate in comprehensibility testing
• Review GHS labels
• Review the work of governmental Chemical
  Commissions
• Participate in national and sectoral awareness
  raising campaigns

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NGO Information websites

• In English
• The International POPs Elimination Network
• www.ipen.org
• In Russian and in English
• Eco-Accord Program on Chemical Safety
• www.ecoaccord.org