Informal Meeting of Asia-Pacific Chemicals Regulators

______2008/SOM1/CDSG/008 Agenda Item: 6

Informal Meeting of Asia-Pacific Chemicals Regulators - Annotated Agenda

Purpose: Information Submitted by: USA

Chemical Dialogue Steering Group Meeting Lima, Peru 24 February 2008 Informal Meeting of Asia-Pacific Chemicals Regulators with Interested Parties From Principles to Practice Annotated Agenda 29 June 2007 during APEC Meetings Hilton Hotel, Ballroom A, Cairns, Australia,

Format An informal meeting with thematic issue groupings each comprising a mix of short presentations and facilitated discussion or panels to promote dialogue, feedback and participation from a range of potential attendees

9:00-10:10 Setting the stage

1. Welcome & Introductions 2. Building from APEC Sub-Committee on Standards and Conformance Trade Facilitation Task Force (TFTF) and Chemical Dialogue discussions including other regulatory discussions: a. Report from the Japanese international workshop on chemicals management and its outcomes on 28 and 29 March 2007, with GHS, SAICM and REACH as the major focus of the workshop; b. Report from Canada on how the region can develop efficiencies in conducting its business while decreasing transaction costs – outlining why regulatory cooperation is encouraged, highlighting three case studies of Canada pursuing regulatory cooperation (with Australia, the EU and the US respectively) and identifying areas for future cooperation.

10:10-10:30 Break

10:30- 12:00 Scientific and technical collaboration within the region

3. Introduction and review of approaches to characterize chemicals, e.g., a. categorization and the application of harmonized approaches, the Parallel Process, Mutual Acceptance of Notification (MAN) and High Production Volume (HPV) programs b. informed substitution – the origins of the concept in the SAICM Overarching Policy Strategy, and product stewardship tools in the US including those relating to flame retardants c. the introduction and implementation of GHS in New Zealand, explaining hazard endpoints, communication elements and group standards

12:00-1:00 Lunch

1:00-2:30 International, Regional and Sub-regional activities

4. Priority substances of concern a. mercury – background to UNEP Governing Council decisions regarding possible measures to address mercury, current processes for international negotiation, an outline of possible approaches to mercury and next steps b. the US experience with PFOA-PFOS – current status and actions, ongoing research and international activities relating to PFOS

1 5. SAICM - its origins, purposes, elements and implementation so far 6. Coordination on relevant international chemicals instruments and issues, which highlighted recent examples of increased coordination in reference to the Stockholm, Basel and Rotterdam Conventions 7. Discussion

2:30-2:45 Break

2:45-3:45 Information Tools, Outreach activities & Emerging Issues

8. Inter-organization programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals (IOMC) tools and activities, which explained the OECD’s eChemPortal, and the launch of the OECD’s Parallel Process pilot to streamline notifications 9. Stakeholder and APEC efforts – comments from the Australian Paint Manufacturers’ Federation on lessons learnt, including that regulators need to communicate to industry as to who are the correct contacts and that governments should not set up impediments to the establishment by industry of programs and initiatives.

3:45-5:00 Future Regulatory Cooperation (facilitated dialogue & panel)

10. Overcoming barriers to cooperation and addressing the benefits of mutual recognition of assessment regime 11. Explore the possibility for: secure exchange of data; compatibility of regulations and the reduction of redundant testing and certification requirements among APEC economies 12. Regular consultation of these issues in the context of the APEC Chemicals Dialogue, approaches and possible project proposals