Mazlin & Goh (09/05/07) Regional GHS Capacity Assessment in ASEAN Mazlin Bin Mokhtar & Goh Choo Ta Institute for Environment and Development (LESTARI) Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) UKM BANGI, Selangor, Malaysia

Mazlin & Goh (09/05/07) eport.pdf

Mazlin & Goh (09/05/07) SCOPE: 1.Introduction 2.Objectives 3.Regional GHS Capacity Assessment in ASEAN 4.National GHS Capacity Assessment in ASEAN 5.Conclusions and recommendations

Mazlin & Goh (09/05/07) 1. Introduction GHS was introduced in UNCED, GHS adopted in 2002 by UNSCEGHS and endorsed by ECOSOC in WSSD & IFCS – Target: global GHS implementation by UNITAR and ILO - focal points for capacity building to implement GHS.

Mazlin & Goh (09/05/07) To assess GHS capacity at the regional level, as well as national level for all the 10 countries in ASEAN. 2. Objectives

Mazlin & Goh (09/05/07) 3. Regional GHS Capacity Assessment in ASEAN

Mazlin & Goh (09/05/07) Existing Key Institutions in ASEAN GHS Implementation in ASEAN (B) ASEAN-OSHNET (C) Other Regional Bodies: i)AMEICC ii)ACIC iii)APEC iv)ICFTU v)CropLife International vi)Consumers International (A) ASEAN secretariat ASEAN-OSHNET: ASEAN Occupational Safety and Health Network AMEICC: ASEAN Economic Ministers – Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan (AEM-METI) Economic and Industry Cooperation Committee ACIC: ASEAN Chemical Industries Council APEC: Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation ICFTU: International Confederation of Free Trade Unions

Mazlin & Goh (09/05/07) (A) ASEAN & (B) ASEAN-OSHNET Situation Analysis – Industrial Workplace: GHS in industrial workplace: ensure workers and employers have the capacities to identify the risk. ASEAN Vision 2020, to enhance human resource development. To realise the ASEAN Vision 2020, Hanoi Plan of Action (HPA) ( ) and Vientiane Action Programme (VAP) ( ) were introduced in ASEAN

Mazlin & Goh (09/05/07) One of the strategies of VAP: manage the social impact of economic integration - by developing and enhancing human resources in the workforce, strengthening systems of social protection and social risk management. DOSH Malaysia completed the first draft of ‘ASEAN Guidelines on Chemical Classification, Labelling & Safety Data Sheet’. (A) ASEAN & (B) ASEAN-OSHNET (cont)

Mazlin & Goh (09/05/07) 2002, approximately 48.1 percent ASEAN population involved in agriculture AMAF (in 1984), agreed to promote agriculture cooperatives in the ASEAN region through: (i)exchanges of information and experiences; (ii) education and training; (iii) research and development; and (iv) other project activities (A) ASEAN & (B) ASEAN-OSHNET (cont) Situation Analysis – Agriculture:

Mazlin & Goh (09/05/07) ASEAN pesticide network and database - coordination of Malaysia. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) has been promoted under the Strategic Plan of Action ( ) for agriculture sector in ASEAN. To improve productivity, cost effectiveness and ensure environmental sustainability. (A) ASEAN & (B) ASEAN-OSHNET (cont)

Mazlin & Goh (09/05/07) Situation Analysis – Transport: Transportation of dangerous goods via road, rail, water and air. Protocol 9 by ASEAN Transport Ministers in Jakarta (2002) - internationally accepted standards and guidelines, i.e. UNRTDG (revised version 2001), European Agreement Concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR) (revised version 2001). (A) ASEAN & (B) ASEAN-OSHNET (cont)

Mazlin & Goh (09/05/07) Situation Analysis – Consumer Products: Consumer products, such as paints, dyes and cleansing products might contain hazardous chemicals. In ASEAN, so far there are no explicit efforts amongst members of ASEAN countries in regulating consumer products, that contain hazardous chemicals. (A) ASEAN & (B) ASEAN-OSHNET (cont)

Mazlin & Goh (09/05/07) Others Situation Analysis – Trade: GHS will facilitate international trade and reduce barriers to trade and adoption of GHS will also expedite the customs procedures. ASEAN Customs Vision eight (8) technical elements (e.g. goods in transit, cargo processing and tariff classification) and seven (7) administrative elements (e.g. training and human resource development and strategic planning and management) were identified. (A) ASEAN & (B) ASEAN-OSHNET (cont)

Mazlin & Goh (09/05/07) Others Situation Analysis – Environment: GHS had been discussed in AWGMEA, May 2006, in Bogor, Indonesia. GHS is now an agenda item in the AWGMEA (A) ASEAN & (B) ASEAN-OSHNET (cont)

Mazlin & Goh (09/05/07) (C) Other Regional Bodies AMEICC (ASEAN Economic Ministers – Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan Economic and Industry Cooperation Committee) AMEICC - Working Group on Chemical Industry (WGCI) was established in Objectives of WGCI: (i) exchange of information on petrochemical products; (ii) views on safety policies and technical cooperation; and (iii) capacity building of chemical industries in ASEAN. GHS was firstly discussed in the 7th WGCI in 2002, initiated by CICM.

Mazlin & Goh (09/05/07) ASEAN Member CountriesType of training coursesTimeframe Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines and Vietnam GHS primary, intermediate, and advanced course GHS instructor training course Cambodia, Lao PDR and Myanmar GHS primary, intermediate, and advanced course GHS instructor training course note: Training course is not provided for Singapore and Brunei due to the status of their economy Since 2003, Japan has initiated the ‘GHS Expert Dispatch Programme’, particularly for ASEAN member countries. (C) Other Regional Bodies (cont)

Mazlin & Goh (09/05/07) ACIC (ASEAN Chemical Industries Council): ACIC play an important role in GHS implementation. Their proposed strategies include: (i)inviting non-ACIC members to regional GHS training events; (ii) nominating a company representative for GHS in countries where no ACIC representative exists; (iii) executing training and awareness raising workshops, and (iv) updates on GHS implementation in ACIC publications and news letters. (C) Other Regional Bodies (cont)

Mazlin & Goh (09/05/07) APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation) 5th Chemical Dialogue in 2006 in Hanoi - APEC economies could not meet the 2006 target date because of the complexity of the system. APEC Chemical Dialogue Steering Group form an informal group known as ‘Friends of the Chair’ to undertake communication and identification of tools (C) Other Regional Bodies (cont)

Mazlin & Goh (09/05/07) ICFTU (International Confederation of Free Trade Unions) Under the ICFTU, three major regional organisations had been established: (i) ICFTU African Regional Organization (ICFTU-AFRO); (ii) ICFTU Asia and Pacific Regional Organization (ICFTU-APRO); and (iii) ICFTU Inter American Regional Organization of Workers (ICFTU-ORIT). The ICFTU-APRO was established in to further the establishment, maintenance and development of free trade unions; to carry out workers’ education programmes etc. (C) Other Regional Bodies (cont)

Mazlin & Goh (09/05/07) CropLife International CropLife International addresses area of crop protection (pesticides), agriculture biotechnology and sustainable agriculture. CropLife Asia promotes the benefits and responsible use of crop protection and plant biotechnology products, as well as sound regulatory frameworks. (C) Other Regional Bodies (cont)

Mazlin & Goh (09/05/07) Consumers International (CI) CI - dedicated to the protection and promotion of consumers’ rights worldwide. 4 offices for CI and they are situated in (i) Accra, Ghana; (ii) Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; (iii) London, UK and (iv) Santiago, Chile. The CI Kuala Lumpur Office was established in 1974 and the cooperation areas are such as (i) research; (ii) capacity building; (iii) information dissemination; (iv) policy development; (v) campaigning/advocacy; and (vi) representation. (C) Other Regional Bodies (cont)

Mazlin & Goh (09/05/07) 4. National GHS Capacity Assessment in ASEAN

Mazlin & Goh (09/05/07) (A) Summary of Situation Analysis Summary of Existing Chemical Classification System in ASEAN NoCountryExisting Chemical Classification System in ASEAN Industrial workplace AgricultureTransportConsumer products Others* 1.Brunei Darussalam// 2.Cambodia/ 3.Indonesia//// 4.Lao PDR///// 5.Malaysia/// 6.Myanmar// 7.Philippines//// 8.Singapore// 9.Thailand//// 10.Vietnam//// Total89752 *Others Lao PDR: Toxic and Hazardous Substance Chemicals for health and medical purposes Myanmar: Precursor chemicals for dangerous drugs

Mazlin & Goh (09/05/07) Summary of Existing Hazard Communication System in ASEAN (A) Summary of Situation Analysis (cont) NoCountryExisting Hazard Communication System in ASEAN Industry workplace AgricultureTransportConsumer products Others* 1.Brunei Darussalam// 2.Cambodia/ 3.Indonesia//// 4.Lao PDR///// 5.Malaysia/// 6.Myanmar/ 7.Philippines//// 8.Singapore/// 9.Thailand//// 10.Vietnam//// Total *Others Lao PDR: Chemicals for health and medical purposes

Mazlin & Goh (09/05/07) (B) Summary of Gaps Although all the ten ASEAN member countries are progressing well in implementing the GHS, however, the challenges encountered are: 1. lack of finance 2. lack of human resources 3. lack of expertise / capacity 4. lack of awareness 5. lack of coordination and cooperation amongst relevant agencies 6. time constraint 7. low participation from SMEs

Mazlin & Goh (09/05/07) 5. Conclusions and recommendations i.Dissemination of ‘ASEAN Guidelines on Chemical Classification, Labelling & Safety Data Sheet’ by ASEAN-OSHNET. ii.GHS-related issues incorporated into the IPM; uploading an example of pesticide labels (that comply with GHS) in the ASEAN pesticide network and database. iii.Protocol 9 should be amended in order to incorporate GHS, i.e. UNRTDG 14th edition (revised version 2005).

Mazlin & Goh (09/05/07) iv.ASEAN working group on consumer products could be established. v.Nominate and develop several accredited research institutions in ASEAN (to reduce the cost in developing/preparing SDS). vi.Priority chemicals/consumer products be identified as a first step. 5. Conclusions and recommendations (cont)

Mazlin & Goh (09/05/07) vii.Utilize the experts (in ASEAN member countries). viii.Regional conference, representatives from governments, ASEAN Secretariat, ASEAN- OSHNET, AMEICC, APEC, regional public interest, consumer and labour organizations, as well as other relevant stakeholders. 5. Conclusions and recommendations (cont)

Mazlin & Goh (09/05/07)