Status of the GHS Implementation in ASEAN and Japan Hiroshi Jonai Nihon University Tokyo Japan

I am so sorry that the response from Cambodia is lacking in the file.

A questionnaire survey on status of the GHS implementation  Target ASEAN (Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam) and Japan  When July – August 2010

A questionnaire survey on status of the GHS implementation  Items of a questionnaire 1.Lead ministry for GHS 2.Other engaged ministries or coordination or committee (for GHS implementation) 3.Current legal status (covering different sectors) 4.Transition or phase-in periods from existing systems to GHS 5.Training and capacity building activities 6.Plans for Others (Building approach, International cooperation on GHS implementation)

Summary of the results Most of the countries surveyed have set the GHS committee consisted of the ministries concerned. There is no country to introduce the GHS for four sectors (Industry, Agriculture, Transport, Consumers) at the present time (August 2010). Six countries (Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam) of ASEAN have prepared or considered to implement the GHS. Japan has implemented the GHS partly for industrial sector. There are big discrepancies among ASEAN in capacity building; Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand reported the activities for that.

Status of the GHS Implementation for four sectors in ASEAN and Japan CountryIndustryAgricultureTransportConsumers Brunei Darussalam No CambodiaNo IndonesiaYes?NoYesNo Lao People’s Democratic Republic No MalaysiaNo YesNo MyanmarNo PhilippinesNo YesNo SingaporeYesNoYesNo ThailandNo YesNo VietnamYes NoYesNo JapanYesNoYesNo

Conclusions and Recommendations As far as I know, most countries surveyed have no comprehensive system to classify and label chemicals. This means that the GHS is very new to those Asian countries. The way to implement the GHS or to set up support system in those countries would be different from that for EU or USA. There are some countries implementing the TDG, but mainly for air and sea transport. Land transportation in ASEAN and Japan would have another issue to implement the GHS or the TDG.

Conclusions and Recommendations Capacity building activities for the GHS are limited. First of all, the human resources and the budgetary support in ASEAN would be needed for popularization or raising awareness of the GHS in all sectors. A focal point or a contact person seems not to be definite in some countries. Strengthening the current network or making new network for the GHS should be done. This workshop could be the good chance for that.

To finalize report The draft report in the file has not completed. Feedback on the status of the GHS implementation in Southeast, East and Central Asia would be much appreciated to finalize the report.

I would like to express to responders my deepest gratitude for their time and cooperation!