Caribbean Regional Assessment August 2013 Ianthe Smith, Environmental Engineering Consultant1

GHS A comprehensive and coherent approach used in defining and classifying hazards, and communicating information on labels and safety data sheets It represents a worldwide system for hazard communication It supports the development of comprehensive national chemical safety programmes Ianthe Smith, Environmental Engineering Consultant2

NATIONAL & REGIONAL ASSESSMENT To analyse the status of chemical hazard classification and communication & GHS implementation To lay the groundwork for considering regionally coordinated GHS implementation To contribute to the implementation of SAICM To protect human health and the environment from dangerous chemicals Ianthe Smith, Environmental Engineering Consultant3

COUNTRIES ASSESSED Antigua and Barbuda The Bahamas Barbados Belize Dominica Grenada Guyana Haiti Jamaica Montserrat Saint Lucia St. Kitts and Nevis St. Vincent and the Grenadines Suriname Trinidad and Tobago Ianthe Smith, Environmental Engineering Consultant4

SURVEY Level of awareness about GHS Existing national arrangements for coordination and implementation Challenges that could prevent the implementation generally in the transport, industry, consumer products and agriculture/pesticides sectors Potential funding sources for implementation Ianthe Smith, Environmental Engineering Consultant5

SURVEY Survey issued July 25, 2013 No responses received by deadline date of August 6, 2013 Late responses received from Dominica, Haiti and Jamaica Due to anticipated poor response, research was done Reliance on National Chemicals Profiles and NIP for POPs, SAICM, UNITAR & Stockholm Convention websites Ianthe Smith, Environmental Engineering Consultant6

CHEMICALS IN THE REGION Not many countries within the region manufacture chemicals All countries import chemicals petrochemicals for transportation sector pesticides & fertilisers for agricultural sector Few export chemicals Ianthe Smith, Environmental Engineering Consultant7

CountryTypes of Chemicals Manufactured Petroleum /Oils PesticidesFertilisersIndustrial/ Household Cleaning Products Pharma -ceuticals Paints, Varnishes, Lacquers and allied products Cosmetics, soaps, toiletries Glue, Adhesives, Polishes & Wax Industrial Gases Other Antigua & Barbuda Bahamas Barbados Belize Dominica Grenada Guyana Haiti Jamaica Matches and Dyes Montserrat St. Kitts & Nevis St. Lucia St. Vincent & the Grenadines Suriname Trinidad & Tobago Matches, Dyes, Pigments, inks, natural asphalt and asphalt products 8

CHEMICAL IMPORTS Used mainly in the following industries or for the following purposes: Agricultural industry, Pharmaceutical industry, Transportation Petroleum industry Bauxite mining and alumina production Gold mining and manufacturing Manufacturing of industrial and domestic cleaning products, Paint production Household and industrial cleaning Ianthe Smith, Environmental Engineering Consultant9

CHEMICAL IMPORTS USA EU China Trinidad and Tobago Canada Venezuela Central America, Netherland Antilles Mexico UK Holland Dominican Republic Japan Columbia Ianthe Smith, Environmental Engineering Consultant10

MAIN CHEMICALS IMPORTED PetroleumAutomotive Products Agro-chemical products DetergentsCleanersBatteries Paints, Synthetic Fibres Petroleum products Metal coatings PerfumesDrugsFillers AdhesivesCosmeticsOils InksFibreglass and resin plastics Acids PigmentsAlkalis Ianthe Smith, Environmental Engineering Consultant11

LEGISLATION Many countries with several pieces of legislation Small countries will minimal legislation Legislation specifically for pesticides and toxic chemicals Ianthe Smith, Environmental Engineering Consultant12

LEGISLATION Legislative challenges Multiple legislation that are not coordinated e.g. Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Act Standards Act Occupational Health and Safety Act Precursor Chemicals Act Food and Drug Act Pharmacy Act Principal Acts without supporting regulations Multiple administrative and institutional arrangements for the management of chemicals Pharmacy Act or Food and Drug Act that covers poisons in addition to pharmaceuticals Ianthe Smith, Environmental Engineering Consultant13

GHS IMPLEMENTATION Jamaica and Barbados implementing GHS Barbados far advanced; could be the 1 st country in the region to complete implementation Trinidad implementing a system but not GHS 7 out of 15 countries have developed National Chemicals Profiles 13 out of 15 have prepared NIPs for the management of POPs Ianthe Smith, Environmental Engineering Consultant14

NATIONAL CHEMICALS PROFILES CountryDate of Publication 1 BarbadosFirst Edition: Jul 2004; Second Edition: Apr BelizeNovember 8, GuyanaFebruary HaitiFirst Edition: Jan 2006; Second Edition: Oct JamaicaMay SurinameMay Trinidad & TobagoJune 2001 Ianthe Smith, Environmental Engineering Consultant15

NIPS for POPs 1. Antigua & Barbuda 2. Barbados 3. Bahamas 4. Belize 5. Dominica 6. Guyana 7. Haiti 8. Jamaica 9. St. Kitts Nevis 10. St. Lucia 11. St. Vincent and the Grenadines 12. Suriname 13. Trinidad & Tobago Ianthe Smith, Environmental Engineering Consultant16

REGIONAL BODIES Coordinating Group of Pesticides Control Boards of the Caribbean (CGPC) Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago. The Caribbean Environmental Health Institute (CEHI) Technical Institute of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Provides technical and advisory services to Member States in all areas of environmental management Ianthe Smith, Environmental Engineering Consultant17

REGIONAL BODIES CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ) primary objective is the establishment and harmonisation of standards to enhance the efficiency and improve quality in the production of goods and services in the Community to protect the consumer and the environment and to improve trade within the Community and with third states Ianthe Smith, Environmental Engineering Consultant18

GAPS & CHALLENGES - NATIONAL Chemicals management covered by several pieces of legislation Creates a highly fragmented approach No one in charge when there is overlapping legislation Focus is primarily on pesticides Specific legislation for different hazardous materials e.g. pesticides and explosives No over-arching law that addresses all hazardous materials Ianthe Smith, Environmental Engineering Consultant19

GAPS & CHALLENGES - NATIONAL Insufficient attention to industrial chemicals, consumer chemicals, occupational health and safety and the transportation of chemicals No legislative and institutional frameworks for these specific sectors Institutions need human resources and technical capacity Insufficient financial resources as the countries have other demands on finances This activity ranks low for funding from national budgets Ianthe Smith, Environmental Engineering Consultant20

GAPS & CHALLENGES - NATIONAL GHS Implementation GapsCountries Little or no awareness about GHSAntigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Montserrat, Saint Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago Inadequate legislative and institutional frameworks to implement GHS The Bahamas, Dominica, Grenada, Haiti, Montserrat, St. Vincent and the Grenadines Numerous legislation and complicated and fragmented institutional frameworks Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname. No SAICM Focal PointGrenada, St. Kitts and Nevis No National Chemicals ProfileAntigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines No National Implementation Plan for POPs Grenada, Montserrat Ianthe Smith, Environmental Engineering Consultant21

GAPS, CHALLENGES & RECOMMENDATIONS - REGIONAL Some regional institutions that can help to advance the GHS do not have this issue on their agendas e.g. CROSQ Coordination among the regional groups and linkages would have to be strengthened for them to provide effective assistance to GHS implementation within the region The first priority is to increase awareness about GHS Especially in the small countries in the OECS that appear to know little or nothing about GHS Funding for GHS Implementation in CARICOM countries can also be sought on a regional basis through these regional bodies especially for those within the OECS with similar deficiencies Ianthe Smith, Environmental Engineering Consultant22

THE END Ianthe Smith, Environmental Engineering Consultant23