1. Status of GHS Implementation and Hazard Communication in Myanmar
Dr. Phone Myint ( Ministry of Health )
Dr. Khin Saw Yi (Ministry of Health) Daw Bunny Win (Ministry of Industry I)
Daw Ni Ni Tun (Ministry of Agriculture &Irrigation)

2. Union of Myanmar
The Land
The largest country on the main land of South East Asia.
Total land area
676,577sq.km (216,228sq.miles)
The neighboring countries:
Bangladesh, China, India, Laos, Thailand

3. Current Population – around 53 million
Official language
Myanmar
Religion
Freedom of religion
Buddhism, Islam, Christians, Hindus

4. Economic System system Line of Trade Market oriented economy
Agriculture
Industry
Oil production
Livestock and fishery
Mineral
Gems and Jade

5. Myanmar, a member country of ASEAN and BIMSTEC is embarking on programs for the all round national development and promoting the quality of life of the people to achieve the aim for the emergence of a peaceful , modern and developed nation.

6. It is implementing a market oriented economic system and taking appropriate measures for increasing participation of the private sector extensively in economic activities and promoting efficiency of State Economic Enterprises .

7. Myanmar is also in the midst of Political, Socioeconomic, Environmental, Technological, Demographic and Epidemiological transitions.

8. The growth in productive sectors such as Agriculture, Industry, Energy , Transport and other service sectors made enormous progress in human development by positive contribution to employment opportunities, increase personal income, greater social wealth and improved services.

9. Economic development programs are not free from risks and adverse effects on human health and environment either directly through exposure to harmful agents particularly chemicals or indirectly through environmental degradation and environmental pollution.

10. In a developing country like Myanmar
Hazardous Chemicals and
In a developing country like Myanmar
human exposure and health risk arising from
existing hazardous chemicals such as
pesticides , lead and mercury are of
particular concerns.

11. Recognizing the need of integration of Health , Environment and Sustainable Development, the Government of the Union of Myanmar has established the National Commission for Environmental Affairs in 1990, to formulate a comprehensive national environmental policy.

12. Myanmar Agenda 21 was adopted in 1997 to serve as a blue-print for Sustainable Development in the country. Myanmar Agenda 21 covers the three broad dimensions (or) the three pillars of sustainable development namely- the social, economic and environmental dimensions.

13. Regarding the Environmentally Sound Management of Toxic chemical, Myanmar Agenda 21 contains a chapter relating to this issue. In particular, Chapter 10 of Myanmar Agenda 21 is concerned with Environmental Quality Management and Enhancement.

14. Promote environmentally sound management of toxic chemicals and hazardous wastes is one of the programs.
Regarding the sources of toxic chemicals and hazardous wastes, Myanmar Agenda 21 stated that in Myanmar, most factories neither produce toxic chemicals nor use them as raw materials in their manufacturing processes.

15. However, some industrial hazardous wastes are generated by a few factories such as paper mills, leather factories, textile mills and some chemical plants.

16. Chemical Related Industries of Myanmar
Registered Chemical Related Industries under Ministry of Industry I
Main Brand Total no:
Factory Factories
MyanmaTextile Industries
Myanma Food Stuff Industries
Myanma Pharmaceutical Industries
Myanma Ceramic Industries
Myanma Paper & Chemical Industries
MyanmaGeneral & Maintenance
Industries _______________________
Source: Ministry of Industry I ________________________
Until 30th June 2005 (up to date)

17. Registered Chemical Related Private Industries
No. Description No. of Establishment
Food Product
Textiles
Leather
Paper
Coke & Petrol Product
Chemical & Chemical Product
Rubber & Plastic
Soap & Detergent ( Bar, Powder , Liquid )
Pharmaceutical Industries
Ceramic Industries
_________
30803
__________
Source: Ministry of Industry I
Until 30th June 2005 (up to date)

18. Industrial Chemicals
Hazardous chemicals which are in use in large quantities are caustic soda, bleaching agents such as Hydrogen Peroxide, Sodium Chlorite, Sodium Hypochlorite and acids. These chemicals are imported.

19. Most of the chemicals in Consumer
Products are imported.
Big Chemical Industries are not existed in
Myanmar.
Majority of industries are medium or small in
size.

20. Laws and Regulations
There are sectoral laws , regulations and departmental actions related to the sound management of toxic chemicals. These include the Explosive Act (1887),the Oil Field Act (1918) the Poison Act (1919),the Petroleum Act (1934) the Factory Act (1951),

21. Laws and Regulations
the Motor Vehicle Law (1964),the Private Industrial Enterprises Law (1990)
the Pesticide law(1990) , the Promotion of Cottage Industries Law (1991) ,Myanmar Mines Law(1994) ,Air Pollution and Water Pollution Control Plan of the Ministry of Industry I and Myanmar Investment Commission Guidelines.

22. Laws and Regulations
Other legislation such as Factories Act of 1951, Public Health Law 1972 which are more or less related with the management of hazardous waste and prevention of industrial accidents . At present, they are under review.

23. Institution
Regarding institution, there is no specific institution assigned with the task for the overall management of toxic chemicals and hazardous wastes.

24. Existing legislation that could accommodate the GHS
- There are many different names and articles of law under different ministries in Myanmar. The Ministry of Industry I issues the action plan as standing order in which Occupational Safety and Health Plan, Air and Water Pollution Control Plan, Food and Drug Control Plan are included.

25. Existing legislation that could accommodate the GHS (cont:)
These standing orders are directly concerned with
the Chemical Safety Law. In order to get a
comprehensive Chemical Safety Law and
regulations, harmonization is required which will
take time and assistance from UN agencies.

26. Existing legislation that could accommodate the GHS
Industry
Standing Orders of Industry I & II
Agriculture
Pesticides Law of 1990
Transport
Motor Vehicle Law (1960)
Consumers Chemicals
No specific chemical law and regulation exist recently.
There are individual instructions and directions in each Ministry.
The manuals of how to handle chemicals are issued in each chemical industry depending on the type of chemical and process respectively.

27. Chemical Classification System
Industry - For Industrial Chemicals the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System is used.
Agriculture - FAO Code of Conduct on the Distribution and Use of Pesticides,

28. Guidelines on Good Labeling Practice for Pesticides and the WHO Recommended Classification of Pesticides by Hazards are used by the Agriculture sector.
Transport - UN Recommendation on the Transport of Dangerous Goods (UNRTG) is adopted and practiced by the Transport Sector.

29. Existing Hazard Communication System
Industrial chemicals
- Use of labels and safety data sheets.
Agriculture
- Use of labels.
Transport
- Use of labels .
Consumers
Safety data sheets, sometimes not
available especially from border trade.

30. Introduction of GHS into National Chemical Management Scheme.
- Interested in introducing GHS into National Chemical Management Scheme.
- The adaptation process of GHS in Myanmar is under way.
- At present, Myanmar stands at the stage of awareness raising on GHS.

31. Current of GHS implementation in Myanmar
Preparing for revising related legislation / administrative procedures.

32. Obstacles to implementation of the GHS
- Lack of resources / capacity.

33. chemicals to workers and general public
Realizing the hazards of dangerous
chemicals to workers and general public
especially the vulnerable groups, GHS which
provides a framework for helping to improve
chemical management and safety of these
groups need to be adopted.

34. All of us are very much interested in taking
advantage of the GHS to develop basic
capacities for sound chemical hazard
communication and chemical management in
general . It has been inspired that relevant
legal and technical infrastructure could be
built through adequate training and technical
support .

35. As there are many different laws and regulations pertaining to chemicals management, harmonization will take some time and assistance from UN Agencies and relevant organizations is required for a comprehensive enforcement and practice of GHS in Myanmar.

36. Thank You