1. Ministry of Health of Brazil General Coordination on Environmental Health Surveillance Session 2 Panel: Regional Experiences with GHS Implementation Mercosul André Fenner November - 2005 Global Thematic Workshop on Strengthening Capacities to Implement the GHS

2. Outline 1- Participation in the SCEGHS 2- Activites in the region 3- Regional Profile 4- Results from the Regional Workshop 5- Mercosul 6- Gaps

3. Brazil Vice-Chair of SCEGHS (2001-2005) Ministry of Labour and Employement; Ministry of Health; Ministry of Development, Industry and Trade; Road Transport National Agency Argentina Argentinian Naval City Hall NGO Industrial Federation Paints and Coats of Mercosur (IFPCM) Participation in SCEGHS

4. ArgentinaArgentina held several GHS related workshops by the Chemistry Information Center for Emergencies (including Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Peru) held several GHS related workshops by the Chemistry Information Center for Emergencies (including Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Peru) BrazilBrazil many activites between 2001-2005 Colombia seminar on GHS with stakeholders on June 2005 UruguayUruguay seminar on GHS with stakeholders Activites in the Region

5. GuyanaGuyana ILO sponsor mission of a GHS expert from Finland in November 2002 to assist the Guyana Government to develop regulations for the safe use of chemicals at work. (3 drafts proposals for regulations) South American Sub-regional Workshop on Chemical Hazard Communication and GHS ImplementationSouth American Sub-regional Workshop on Chemical Hazard Communication and GHS Implementation São Paulo – Brazil, 29 November – 2 December 2004 (UNITAR/GTZ/BRAZIL/USA) Activites in the Region

6. Side-event at Stockholm Convention COP-1Side-event at Stockholm Convention COP-1 Punta del Este - Uruguay, 3 May 2005 Second Meeting of Health and Environment Ministries of America – HEMA - 17 June 2005Second Meeting of Health and Environment Ministries of America – HEMA - 17 June 2005 Mar del Plata – Argentina HEMA Declaration: 3 priorities 1 – water 2 – Chemicals 3 – Environmental Health Children Agenda : GHS implementation Agenda : GHS implementation Activites in the Region

7. Argentina 70% of South America Chemical production is concentrated on Argentina, Mexico and Brazil 2004 – Emergency Response Guide situation analysis – emergency response systems and GHS indentification of suitable regulatory and administrative mechanisms to implement GHS Bolivia GHS not implemented Legal framework and supporting regulation Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions Regional Profile

8. Bolivia National Profile and National Implementation Plan for POPs develop strategies for managing Chemicals work with the private sector and NGOs to draft materials on packaging and labellling involve Ministry of Health to GHS Implementation process of certifying laboratories Chile Established a sub-committee (health, labour, agriculture, transport, environment, economics, civil society and trade unions) Regional Profile

9. Chile reviewing the existing system for chemicals labelling and indentifying the gaps lack of consistency systems for pesticides and transport sector GHS implementation was supported by indutry sector GHS implementation was supported by indutry sectorEcuador 1998 – established a National Programme for the Management of Hazardous Chemicals lacked an integrated legal regime and technical infrastructures for the management of chemicals Regional Profile

10. Ecuador Ministry of Health – registration of pesticides and pharmaceuticals and awareness raising on risks related to pesticides Colombia Existing technical standards applying to classification of hazardous goods, the labelling of pesticides for agricultural use, the use of data safety sheets, and emergency procedure for transporting hazardous goods Based in UN standards Regional Profile

11. Colombia Pesticides labelling were based on Croplifes standards GHS implementation required the participation of many different actors Paraguay National Commission for Chemical Safety not implemented Uruguay GHS not implemented due to the lack of a legal framework for classifying and labelling chemicals Regional Profile

12. Uruguay GHS not implemented due to the lack of a legal framework for classifying and labelling chemicals Promote dissemination of the GHS, including awareness raising activities at the University of Uruguay Venezuela Legal framework – national standards for the classification and labelling, transport and handling of pesticides Inter-ministerial Commission for Chemical Safety Regional Profile

13. Reaffirmation of the commitment to the WSSD target of GHS implementation by 2008;Reaffirmation of the commitment to the WSSD target of GHS implementation by 2008; Agreement on the benefits of appropriate GHS implementation to facilitate trade and improve the protection of human health and the environmentAgreement on the benefits of appropriate GHS implementation to facilitate trade and improve the protection of human health and the environment Agreement that national development mechanisms for multisectoral approaches, with relevant civil society organizations, is essential for GHS implementationAgreement that national development mechanisms for multisectoral approaches, with relevant civil society organizations, is essential for GHS implementation Results from the Regional Workshop

14. Agreement that the main obstacles to implementation include: lack of awareness; lack of knowledge and information about the GHS; non-existing or fragmented/conflicting national regulation/lesgislation; differing regional structures; lack of resources; and lack of trainingAgreement that the main obstacles to implementation include: lack of awareness; lack of knowledge and information about the GHS; non-existing or fragmented/conflicting national regulation/lesgislation; differing regional structures; lack of resources; and lack of training Agreement to undertake activities (and improve upon existing activities) to overcome these obstacles at the national and regional levelsAgreement to undertake activities (and improve upon existing activities) to overcome these obstacles at the national and regional levels Identify a multi-sectoral GHS focal pointsIdentify a multi-sectoral GHS focal points Results from the Regional Workshop

15. SGT-11 and RMS (Working Group and Ministries Meeting – Health)SGT-11 and RMS (Working Group and Ministries Meeting – Health) 2 Commissions (Environemental Health and Risks Management) SGT-10 (Working Group – Labour)SGT-10 (Working Group – Labour) SGT-6 (Working Group – Environment)SGT-6 (Working Group – Environment) Created Ad Hoc Group on Chemicals Proposed a training periode for Mercosul Countries (UNEP support) Proposed a training periode for Mercosul Countries (UNEP support) Mercosul

16. No pilot country in the regionNo pilot country in the region – candidate to be a pilot-country Venezuela – candidate to be a pilot-country Consolidation the existing of regional legislationConsolidation the existing of regional legislation Lack of human and financial resourcesLack of human and financial resources Donors reluctance – restrictive financial situations and decrease in funds available from donorsDonors reluctance – restrictive financial situations and decrease in funds available from donors Gaps

17. Lack of capacity building and training programmesLack of capacity building and training programmes Lack of coordination between sectorsLack of coordination between sectors Lack of communicationLack of communication Lack of technical know-how and critical evalutionLack of technical know-how and critical evalution Education and Awareness raising programmesEducation and Awareness raising programmes Lack of expertise in GHS implementationLack of expertise in GHS implementation Gaps

18. andre.fenner@saude.gov.br andrefenner@hotmail.com Phone: 00 55 61 21 07 44 71 Thanks for your attention!