g. Encourage national and regional work to harmonize evaluation of pesticides;
h. Promote and develop mechanisms for the safe production, management and use of
dangerous materials, formulating programmes to substitute for them safer alternatives,
where appropriat e;
i. Formalize networks of emergency response centres;
j. Encourage industry, with the help of multilateral cooperation, to phase out as appropriate,
and dispose of, any banned chemicals that are still in stock or in use in an
environmentally sound manner, in cluding safe reuse, where approved and appropriate.
Means of implementation
(a) Financial and cost evaluation
19.53. The Conference secretariat has included most costs related to this programme in estimates provided for programme areas A and E. They estimate other requirements for training and strengthening the emergency and poison control centres to be about $4 million annually from the international community on grant or concessional terms. These are indicative and order -of-magnitude estimates only and have not been reviewed by Governments. Actual costs and financial terms, including any that are non -concessional, will depend upon, inter alia, the specific strategies and programmes Governments decide upon for implementation.
(b) Scientific and technologica l means
19.54. Governments, in cooperation with relevant international organizations and programmes, should:
a. Promote technology that would minimize release of, and exposure to, toxic chemicals in
all countries;
b. Carry out national reviews, as appropriate, of p reviously accepted pesticides whose
acceptance was based on criteria now recognized as insufficient or outdated and of their
possible replacement with other pest control methods, particularly in the case of
pesticides that are toxic, persistent and/or bio -accumulative.
E. Strengthening of national capabilities and capacities for management of chemicals
Basis for action
19.55. Many countries lack national systems to cope with chemical risks. Most countries lack scientific means of collecting evidence of misuse and of judging the impact of toxic chemicals on the environment, because of the difficulties involved in the detection of many problematic chemicals and systematically tracking their flow. Significant new uses are among the potential hazards to human health and the environment in developing countries. In several countries with systems in place there is an urgent need to make those systems more efficient.
19.56. Basic elements for sound management of chemicals are: (a) adequate legislation, (b) information gathering and dissemination, (c) capacity for risk assessment and interpretation, (d) establishment of risk management policy, (e) capacity for implementation and enforcement, (f) capacity for rehabilitation of contaminated sites and poisoned persons, (g) effec tive education programmes and (h) capacity to respond to emergencies.
19.57. As management of chemicals takes place within a number of sectors related to various national ministries, experience suggests that a coordinating mechanism is essential.
Objective
19.58. By the year 2000, national systems for environmentally sound management of chemicals, including legislation and provisions for implementation and enforcement, should be in place in all countries to the extent possible.
Activities
(a) Management-related activities
19.59.
Governments, where appropriate and with the collaboration of relevant intergovernmental
organizations, agencies and programmes of the United Nations system, should:
a.
Promote and support multidisciplinary approaches to chemical safety problems ;
b.
Consider the need to establish and strengthen, where appropriate, a national coordinating
mechanism to provide a liaison for all parties involved in chemical safety activities (for
example, agriculture, environment, education, industry, labour, health, transportation,
police, civil defence, economic affairs, research institutions, and poison control centres);
c.
Develop institutional mechanisms for the management of chemicals, including effective
means of enforcement;
d.
Establish and develop or strengthen, where appropriate, networks of emergency response
centres, including poison control centres;
e.
Develop national and local capabilities to prepare for and respond to accidents by taking
into account the UNEP APELL programme and similar programmes on accident
prevention, preparedness and response, where appropriate, including regularly tested and
updated emergency plans;
f.
Develop, in cooperation with industry, emergency response procedures, identifying
means and equipment in industries and plants necessary to reduce impacts of accidents.
(b) Data and information
19.60.
Governments should:
a.
Direct information campaigns such as programmes providing information about chemical
stockpiles, environmentally safer alternatives and emission inventories that could also be
a tool for risk reduction to the general public to increase the awareness of problems of
chemical safety;
b.
Establish, in conjunction with IRPTC, national registers and databases, including safety
information, for chemicals;
c.
Generate field monitoring data for toxic chemicals of high environmental importance;
d.
Cooperate with international organizations, where appropriate, to effectively monitor and
control the generation, manufacturing, distribution, transportation and disposal activities
relating to toxic chemicals, to foster preventive and precautionary approaches and ensure
compliance with safety management rules, and provide accurate reporting of relevant
data.
(c) International and regional cooperation and coordination
19.61.
Governments, with the cooperation of international organizations, where appropriate, should:
a.
Prepare guidelines, where not already available, with advice and check-lists for enacting
legislation in the chemical safety field;
b. Support countries, particularly developing countries, in develo ping and further
strengthening national legislation and its implementation;
c. Consider adoption of community right -to-know or other public information -
dissemination programmes, when appropriate, as possible risk reduction tools.
Appropriate international or ganizations, in particular UNEP, OECD, the Economic
Commission for Europe (ECE) and other interested parties, should consider the
possibility of developing a guidance document on the establishment of such programmes
for use by interested Governments. The d ocument should build on existing work on
accidents and include new guidance on toxic emission inventories and risk
communication. Such guidance should include harmonization of requirements,
definitions and data elements to promote uniformity and allow shar ing of data
internationally;
d. Build on past, present and future risk assessment work at an international level, to support
countries, particularly developing countries, in developing and strengthening risk
assessment capabilities at national and regional l evels to minimize risk in the
manufacturing and use of toxic chemicals;
e. Promote implementation of UNEP's APELL programme and, in particular, use of an
OECD/UNEP international directory of emergency response centres;
f. Cooperate with all countries, particul arly developing countries, in the setting up of an
institutional mechanism at the national level and the development of appropriate tools for
management of chemicals;
g. Arrange information courses at all levels of production and use, aimed at staff working
on chemical safety issues;
h. Develop mechanisms to make maximum use in countries of internationally available
information;
i. Invite UNEP to promote principles for accident prevention, preparedness and response
for Governments, industry and the public, buildi ng on ILO, OECD and ECE work in this
area.
Means of implementation
(a) Financing and cost evaluation
19.62. The Conference secretariat has estimated the average total annual cost (1993 -2000) of implementing the activities of this programme in developing coun tries to be about $600 million, including $150 million from the international community on grant or concessional terms. These are indicative and order -of-magnitude estimates only and have not been reviewed by Governments. Actual costs and financial terms, including any that are non -concessional, will depend upon, inter alia, the specific strategies and programmes Governments decide upon for implementation.
(b) Scientific and technological means
19.63. International organizations should:
a. Promote the establishm ent and strengthening of national laboratories to ensure the availability
of adequate national control in all countries regarding the importation, manufacture and use of
chemicals;
b. Promote translation, where feasible, of internationally prepared documents on chemical safety
into local languages and support various levels of regional activities related to technology
transfer and information exchange.
(c) Human resource development
19.64.
International organizations should:
a.
Enhance technical training for developing countries in relation to risk management of
chemicals;
b.
Promote and increase support for research activities at the local level by providing grants and
fellowships for studies at recognized research institutions active in disciplines of importance
for chemical safety programmes.
19.65.
Governments should organize, in collaboration with industry and trade unions, training
programmes in the management of chemicals, including emergency response, targeted at all levels. In
all countries basic elements of chemical safety principles should be included in the primary education
curricula.
F. Prevention of illegal international traffic in toxic and dangerous products
19.66. There is currently no global international agreement on traffic in toxic and dangerous products (toxic and dangerous products are those that are banned, severely restricted, withdrawn or not approved for use or sale by Governments in order to protect public health and the environment). However, there is international concern that illegal international traffic in these products is detrimental to public health and the environment, particularly in developing countries, as acknowledged by the General Assembly in resolutions 42/183 and 44/226. Illegal traffic refers to traffic that is carried out in contravention of a country's laws or relevant international legal instruments. The concern also relates to transboundary movements of those products that are not carried out in accordance with applicable internationally adopted guidelines and principles. Activities under this programme area are intended to improve detection and prevention of the traffic concerned.
19.67. Further strengthening of international and regional cooperation is needed to prevent illegal transboundary movement of toxic and dangerous products. Furthermore, capacity-building at the national level is needed to improve monitoring and enforcement capabilities involving recognition of the fact that appropriate penalties may need to be imposed under an effective enforcement programme. Other activities envisaged in the present chapter (for example, under paragraph 19.39 (d)) will also contribute to achieving these objectives.
Objectives
19.68.
The objectives of the programme are:
a.
To reinforce national capacities to detect and halt any illegal attempt to introduce toxic
and dangerous products into the territory of any State, in contravention of national
legislation and relevant international legal instruments;
b.
To assist all countries, particularly developing countries, in obtaining all appropriate
information concerning illegal traffic in toxic and dangerous products.
Activities
(a) Management-related activities
19.69.
Governments, according to their capacities and available resources and with the cooperation of the
United Nations and other relevant organizations, as appropriate, should:
a.
Adopt, where necessary, and implement legislation to prevent the illegal import and
export of toxic and dangerous products;
b. Develop appropriate national enforcement programmes to monitor compliance with such
legislation, and detect and deter violations through appropriate penalties.
(b) Data and information
19.70. Governments should develop, as appropriate, national alert systems to assist in detecting illegal traffic in toxic and dangerous products; local communities, and others could be involved in the operation of such a system.
19.71. Governments should cooperate in the exchange of information on illegal transboundary movements of toxic and dangerous products and should make such information available to appropriate United Nations b odies, such as UNEP and the regional commissions.
(c) International and regional cooperation and coordination
19.72. Further strengthening of international and regional cooperation is needed to prevent illegal transboundary movement of toxic and dangerous pro ducts.
19.73. The regional commissions, in cooperation with and relying upon expert support and advice from UNEP and other relevant bodies of the United Nations, should monitor, on the basis of data and information provided by Governments, and on a continuous b asis make regional assessments of, the illegal traffic in toxic and dangerous products and its environmental, economic and health implications, in each region, drawing upon the results and experience gained in the joint UNEP/ESCAP preliminary assessment of illegal traffic, expected to be completed in August 1992.
19.74. Governments and international organizations, as appropriate, should cooperate with developing countries in strengthening their institutional and regulatory capacities in order to prevent illegal import and export of toxic and dangerous products.
G. Enhancement of international cooperation relating to several of the programme areas
19.75. A meeting of government -designated experts, held in London in December 1991, made recommendations for increased co ordination among United Nations bodies and other international organizations involved in chemical risk assessment and management. That meeting called for the taking of appropriate measures to enhance the role of IPCS and establish an intergovernmental foru m on chemical risk assessment and management.
19.76. To further consider the recommendations of the London meeting and initiate action on them, as appropriate, the Executive Heads of WHO, ILO and UNEP are invited to convene an intergovernmental meeting within o ne year, which could constitute the first meeting of the intergovernmental forum.
Agenda 21 – Chapter 20 ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND MANAGEMENT OF HAZARDOUS WASTES, INCLUDING PREVENTION OF ILLEGAL INTERNATIONAL TRAFFIC IN HAZARDOUS WASTES 20.1. Effective control of the generation, storage, treatment, recycling and reuse, transport, recovery and disposal of hazardous wastes is of paramount importance for proper health, environmental protection and natural resource management, and sustainable development . This will require the active cooperation and participation of the international community, Governments and industry. Industry, as referred to in this paper, shall include large industrial enterprises, including transnational corporations and domestic ind ustry.
20.2. Prevention of the generation of hazardous wastes and the rehabilitation of contaminated sites are the key elements, and both require knowledge, experienced people, facilities, financial resources and technical and scientific capacities.
20.3. The activities outlined in the present chapter are very closely related to, and have implications for, many of the programme areas described in other chapters, so that an overall integrated approach to hazardous waste management is necessary.
20.4. There is internatio nal concern that part of the international movement of hazardous wastes is being carried out in contravention of existing national legislation and international instruments to the detriment of the environment and public health of all countries, particularl y developing countries.
20.5. In section I of resolution 44/226 of 22 December 1989, the General Assembly requested each regional commission, within existing resources, to contribute to the prevention of the illegal traffic in toxic and dangerous products and wastes by monitoring and making regional assessments of that illegal traffic and its environmental and health implications. The Assembly also requested the regional commissions to interact among themselves and cooperate with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), with a view to maintaining efficient and coordinated monitoring and assessment of the illegal traffic in toxic and dangerous products and wastes.
Overall objective
20.6. Within the framework of integrated life -cycle management, the overall objective is to prevent to the extent possible, and minimize, the generation of hazardous wastes, as well as to manage those wastes in such a way that they do not cause harm to health and the environment.
Overall targets
20.7. The overall targets are:
a. Preventing or minimizing the generation of hazardous wastes as part of an overall
integrated cleaner production approach; eliminating or reducing to a minimum
transboundary movements of hazardous wastes, consistent with the environmentally
sound and efficient m anagement of those wastes; and ensuring that environmentally
sound hazardous waste management options are pursued to the maximum extent possible
within the country of origin (the self -sufficiency principle). The transboundary
movements that take place shou ld be on environmental and economic grounds and based
upon agreements between the States concerned;
b. Ratification of the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of
Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal and the expeditious elaboration of re lated protocols,
such as the protocol on liability and compensation, mechanisms and guidelines to
facilitate the implementation of the Basel Convention;
c.
Ratification and full implementation by the countries concerned of the Bamako
Convention on the Ban on the Import into Africa and the Control of Transboundary
Movement of Hazardous Wastes within Africa and the expeditious elaboration of a
protocol on liability and compensation;
d.
Elimination of the export of hazardous wastes to countries that, individually or through
international agreements, prohibits the import of such wastes, such as, the contracting
parties to the Bamako Convention, the fourth Lom Convention or other relevant
conventions, where such prohibition is provided for.
20.8. The following programme areas are included in this chapter:
a.
Promoting the prevention and minimization of hazardous waste;
b.
Promoting and strengthening institutional capacities in hazardous waste management;
c.
Promoting and strengthening international cooperation in the management of
transboundary movements of hazardous wastes;
d.
Preventing illegal international traffic in hazardous wastes.
PROGRAMME AREAS
A. Promoting the prevention and minimization of hazardous waste
Basis for action
20.9. Human health and environmental quality are undergoing continuous degradation by the increasing amount of hazardous wastes being produced. There are increasing direct and indirect costs to society and to individual citizens in connection with the generation, handling and disposal of such wastes. It is therefore crucial to enhance knowledge and information on the economics of prevention and management of hazardous wastes, including the impact in relation to the employment and environmental benefits, in order to ensure that the necessary capital investment is made available in development programmes through economic incentives. One of the first priorities in hazardous waste management is minimization, as part of a broader approach to changing industrial processes and consumer patterns through pollution prevention and cleaner production strategies.
20.10. Among the most important factors in these strategies is the recovery of hazardous wastes and their tranformation into useful material. Technology application, modification and development of new low-waste t echnologies are therefore currently a central focus of hazardous waste minimization.
Objectives
20.11.
The objectives of this programme area are:
a.
To reduce the generation of hazardous wastes, to the extent feasible, as part of an
integrated cleaner production approach;
b.
To optimize the use of materials by utilizing, where practicable and environmentally
sound, the residues from production processes;
c.
To enhance knowledge and information on the economics of prevention and management
of hazardous wastes.
20.12.
To achieve those objectives, and thereby reduce the impact and cost of industrial development,
countries that can afford to adopt the requisite technologies without detriment to their development
should establish policies that include:
a.
Integration of cleaner production approaches and hazardous waste minimization in all
planning, and the adoption of specific goals;