Preparing a National Profile to Assess the National Infrastructure for Management of Chemicals Chemicals and Waste Management Programme United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) Palais des Nations 1211 Geneva 10 Tel: Fax:

2 Presentation overview Introduction –International context, National Profile content, References to preparing a National Profile, Key principles and possible benefits, UNITAR/IOMC National Profile Programme Support Guidance Document/National Profile Methodology Suggested Methodology for National Profile Planning Workshop Working Groups

3 International context 1992 UNCED – United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (Earth Summit), Rio 1992 A number of conventions agreed Key document – Agenda 21 agreed by 150+ heads of state –Chapter 19: chemicals –Chapter 20: wastes Progress on these chapters directly led to development of Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Conventions 2000 UN Millennium Summit World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD), Johannesburg 2002

4 International context: Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) International Conference on Chemicals Management (Dubai, Feb 2006) adopted SAICM Confirms 2020 WSSD goal of sound chemicals management Comprises a number of key agreed documents, including: –Global Plan of Action –Overarching Policy Strategy –High-Level Declaration –other key resolutions such as on implementation arrangements (secretariat) and Quick Start Programme (finance)

5 History of National Profile development IOMC guidance document developed in 1996 Pilot countries undertook testing of the methodology Financing from European Commission, The Netherlands, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Switzerland, United States, and GEF (and now with SAICM QSPTF) Some 100 developing countries have received UNITAR technical and financial support To-date, over 115 countries, including several OECD Member States, have prepared or are preparing a National Profile following the UNITAR/IOMC National Profile Guidance Document

6 National Profile preparation worldwide

7 What is a National Profile? A comprehensive and systematic documentation of the national infrastructure for the management of chemicals, including identification of existing gaps and weaknesses

8 A National Profile includes information on… Chemical production, import, export, storage, transport, use, and disposal Priority concerns related to chemicals at all stages in their life cycle Chemicals-related legislation and non-regulatory mechanisms Responsibilities and activities of governmental and non-governmental bodies Existing interministerial bodies and national coordinating mechanisms

9 A National Profile includes information on… Available data sources Technical infrastructure Chemical emergency preparedness, response, and follow up “Nano” chapter under development Awareness, training, and education Resources available and needed

10 Key principles for preparing a National Profile Involvement of all concerned parties (multi- stakeholder approach) Country-driven process (by countries for countries) Ongoing process (living document – should be updated on a regular basis) Presentation in a standard but flexible reporting format

11 Possible benefits of preparing a National Profile Integration of scattered information into one single national document Initiation of a comprehensive and transparent process to define national priorities Enhanced co-operation of all interested parties within and outside of government Broadened network of contacts Increased mutual awareness and promotion of information exchange among concerned parties

12 Possible benefits of preparing a National Profile Supports reporting under international reporting schemes, including the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants Important component of an integrated national programme for the sound management of chemicals/SAICM implementation Publication of Profile on Internet, including on UNITAR/ECB homepage and national chemical safety homepage CD ROM publication (UNITAR/IOMC)

13 UNITAR/IOMC National Profile Programme Support Conducted under the umbrella of the IOMC Guidance Document available in Arabic, English, French, Russian, and Spanish; April 2008 Supplementary Note; 2010 revised Guidance Document Support programmes in place for developing countries and countries with economies in transition –Assistance to translate the Guidance Document into the local language –Grants for a national university, research institute, or ministry to assist in collecting the relevant national and local information –Support of the organisation of national and local meetings –Consultancy support to facilitate a participatory process in preparing the National Profile –Support for publication, both hard copy and electronic, of the National Profile With country permission, National Profiles are added to the UNITAR/ECB National Profile Homepage and UNITAR National Profiles CD ROM

14 National Profile Homepage

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