9. Stockholm and Basel Conventions: General overview and possible synergies with the Rotterdam Convention

Purpose of the Presentatiion

• Introduce the Basel and Stockholm Conventions • Highlight how they relate to the Rotterdam The Stockholm Convention, and and Basel Conventions: • Possible opportunities for integrated General Overview and Possible Synergies implementation with the Rotterdam Convention

1 Rotterdam Convention 2 Rotterdam Convention

Structure of the Presentation Objectives of the Stockholm Convention

• To protect human health and the environment from the harmful • Objectives of the Conventions impacts of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) • Scope-Coverage • How – eliminate production and use of intentionally produced POPs • Key provisions of the Conventions – minimize and where feasible eliminate releases of unintentionally produced POPs • Present status – clean-up old stockpiles and equipment containing POPs – support the transition to safer alternatives • Areas of commonality – possible synergies – target additional POPs for action

3 Rotterdam Convention 4 Rotterdam Convention

Scope-Coverage Clean up Stockpiles and Equipment

Currently includes 12 chemicals • Governments to identify stockpiles, • Pesticides products and articles containing POPs – aldrin, chlordane, DDT, dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor, mirex, toxaphene, hexachlorobenzene • Stockpiles and wastes to be managed in a • Industrial Chemicals safe efficient and environmentally friendly – hexachlorobenzene, PCBs manner • Unintended byproducts • POPs content must be destroyed – chlorinated dioxins, chlorinated furans

5 Rotterdam Convention 6 Rotterdam Convention

Transition to Safer Alternatives Criteria for New POPs

• DDT is permitted for disease vector control until • Add new chemicals following consideration by locally safe, effective and affordable alternatives an expert body are available • PCBs – governments allowed until 2025 to • Criteria include phase out ‘in-place’ equipment – persistence, bio-accumulation, toxicity, • Country specific exemptions for certain – potential for long-range environmental pesticides transport • Improve ability to minimize release of byproducts (dioxins, furans, HCB, PCBs) 7 Rotterdam Convention 8 Rotterdam Convention

Workshop on the Rotterdam Convention, 19-23 June, Pretoria, South Africa p 43

Assessment of New POPs Support for implementation

• Screening criteria are assessed by a Detailed guidance is available including: POPs Review Committee • Developing a national implementation plan (NIP) • If the criteria are satisfied, information is for the Stockholm Convention gathered to prepare a risk profile • Reducing and Eliminating the use of POPs

• Lack of full scientific certainty shall not • Action Plan for the Reduction of Reliance on prevent a proposal for global action on a DDT in Disease Vector Control chemical • Framework for the Management of PCBs

9 Rotterdam Convention 10 Rotterdam Convention

Status of Stockholm Convention Objectiives of the Basel Convention

Entered into force 17 May 2004 • Reduce transboundary movement of hazardous wastes to a minimum consistent with their • 122 Parties as of April 2006 environmentally sound management

• COP 2, 1-5 May 2006 in Geneva • Dispose of hazardous wastes as close as possible to their source of generation • COP 3, ?? May 2007 in ?? • Minimize generation of hazardous wastes in Website: www.pops.int terms of quantity and degree of hazard.

11 Rotterdam Convention 12 Rotterdam Convention

Scope-Coverage Key Provisions

• Hazardous wastes (specified in Annex I) • A procedure for the notification of transboundary – Explosive movements of hazardous wastes or other – Flammable wastes, based upon a prior written consent – Poisonous procedure – Infectious – Corrosive • Each shipment needs a movement document – Toxic from the point of transboundary movement to the – Ecotoxic point of disposal

13 Rotterdam Convention 14 Rotterdam Convention

Key Provisions Support for Implementatiion

• Transboundary movement only among • Manual and guidelines: parties – Model legislation on control and management of hazardous wastes • Export is prohibited if – Implementation manual – The state of import has an import ban, OR – Instruction manual on the control system – The state of import has not given its consent – Technical Guidelines to the import • Basel Convention Regional Centres

15 Rotterdam Convention 16 Rotterdam Convention

Possible Synergies Among Status of the Basel Convention the three Conventions Entered into force May 1992 1. Framework for lifecycle management 2. Chemicals covered • 168 Parties as of April 2006 3. Coordinated ratification • Subsequent amendments have yet to enter into force 4. Import/export control 5. Waste management Website: www.basel.int 6. Hazard communication

17 Rotterdam Convention 18 Rotterdam Convention

Workshop on the Rotterdam Convention, 19-23 June, Pretoria, South Africa p 44

1. Framework for Lifecycle Management 1. Framework for Lifecycle Management

• Together the three conventions cover the key Rotterdam Convention elements of the life cycle management of hazardous chemicals: • is a first line of defence against future – SC sets out specific criteria for identifying POPs that POPs are to be incorporated into national assessment • gives countries an early opportunity to schemes – should lead to national regulatory action consider alternatives – RC candidate chemicals are those that are banned or • PIC procedure should assist in avoiding an severely restricted or refused first time approval for health or environmental reasons accumulation of unwanted stockpiles

19 Rotterdam Convention 20 Rotterdam Convention

2. Framework for Lifecycle Management 3. Framework for Lifecycle Management

Stockholm Convention Basel Convention

• eliminate production and use of POPs • can assist in managing disposal of chemicals unwanted stockpiles • restricts the import and export of POPs to • technical working group is developing cases where the purpose is the environmentally sound disposal guidelines on management of POPs wastes • reduce or eliminate releases of POPs working on BAT/BEP guidelines

21 Rotterdam Convention 22 Rotterdam Convention

2. Chemicals Covered 3. Coordinated Ratification/Implementation

• 8 of the 10 intentionally produced POPs • Countries can use the experience gained during are subject to the Rotterdam Convention ratification of the Basel Convention for Stockholm and Rotterdam • anticipate that in future intentionally produced POPs in the Stockholm • NIPS developed under the Stockholm Convention will be first included in the RC Convention: opportunity to review national chemicals legislation – ensure that Rotterdam • as wastes all chemicals will be subject to requirements are met the Basel Convention – Utilize Rotterdam Legal Guide in reviewing legislation

23 Rotterdam Convention 24 Rotterdam Convention

3. Coordinated Ratification/Implementation 4. Import/Export Controls

• All three Conventions provide mechanisms to restrict imports and obligations on exports. • Secretariats are working together to – Import restrictions under Rotterdam may help prevent reference to the relevant elements of the stockpiles and wastes accumulating Rotterdam Convention in a revised • Customs officials should be trained on Convention requirements in a coordinated version of the Guidance to developing manner, addressing all three Convention’s NIPs under the Stockholm Convention • Conventions may potentially allow monitoring of movement of hazardous chemicals

25 Rotterdam Convention 26 Rotterdam Convention

4. Import/Export Controls 5. Waste Management

• Movement of wastes under Basel Convention • Secretariats of the three Conventions are – Rotterdam and Stockholm may help to prevent working together to ensure a coordinated accumulation of stockpiles approach to training customs authorities on the requirements of the Conventions • Basel Convention is developing technical guidelines for PCB, dioxins, furans and other – in association with UNEP Green Customs hazardous wastes initiative and the World Customs Organization – These will be incorporated into Stockholm work, which will save resources.

27 Rotterdam Convention 28 Rotterdam Convention

Workshop on the Rotterdam Convention, 19-23 June, Pretoria, South Africa p 45

6. Hazard Communication Conclusion

• All three Conventions have mechanisms for hazard • Secretariats of the three Conventions are communication working to coordinate guidance on those • National focal points for the Conventions should share elements common to the Conventions information to ensure awareness among relevant authorities • Countries should review current • Close cooperation between focal points and regulators operations to determine opportunities for will assist in an integrated approach integrated implementation at the national – such cooperation may assist in coordinated implementation, as common issues can be considered together level

29 Rotterdam Convention 30 Rotterdam Convention

Workshop on the Rotterdam Convention, 19-23 June, Pretoria, South Africa p 46

10. The Basel Convention Regional Centre for English-speaking African Countries (BCRC Pretoria)

BASEL CONVENTION REGIONAL CENTRE PERSPECTIVES

PRESENTATION TO A W ORK SH OP ON ROTTERD AM C ONV ENTION ------by PRETORIA Dr John Mbogoma PRETORIA Executive Director SOU TH AF RIC A Basel Convention Regional Centre Pretoria 19TH - 23RD JU NE 2006

1 2

BACKGROUND TO THE BASEL CONVENTION W H AT Y OU W IL L K NOW 1) Objectives of the B asel C onvention • Global Environmental 2) B rief history of the C entre Treaty 3) Perform ance of the centre • 165 States and EU- Signatories 4) New M andate of the C entre • Adopted (22 March 1989) 5) Projects in the pipeline • Came into Force (5 May 1992)

3 4

BACKGROUND TO OBJECTIVES OF THE BASEL CENTRES CONVENTION • 1989: THE CONVENTION ARTICLE 14 PROPOSES REGIONAL CENTRES • Reduce Trans-boundary Movement of • 1992-1997 FEASIBILITY STUDIES HZW DONE FOR ALL REGIONS • Prohibit HZW Shipments to Countries • 1998: COP DECISION TO HAVE BCRC without capacity IN SOUTH AFRICA • Treat HZW at Source • 1999: DANCED/DANIDA DEVELOP A PROJECT WITH STAKEHOLDERS • Minimize HZW Generation • 2000: PROJECT INITIATED AT VISTA • Assist Developing / Economies in UNIVERSITY IN PRETORIA Transition Countries

5 6

THE START (2000/1) STARTING POINT

NEEDS ASSESSM ENT 2001

7 8

Workshop on the Rotterdam Convention, 19-23 June, Pretoria, South Africa p 47

ASSESSMENT INDICATORS FOR COUNTRIES (2001) COUNTRY ASSESSM ENTS • PRIORITY GIVEN TO WASTE MANAGEMENT INDICATED THE • SKILLS AVAILABLE • FINANCIAL RESOURCES FOLLOW ING CAUSES OF • FACILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE • MONITORING THE PROBLEM S: • INFORMATION • TRAINING ACTIVITIES • PROJECT ACTIVITIES • INSTITUTIONAL NETWORK • REGULATORY FRAMEWORK • LEGISLATIVE ENFORCEMENT 9 10

LIM ITED EASTERN AND CENTRAL RUSSIA AWARENESS EUROPE BRATISLAVIA

EL SALVADOR INADEQUATE/LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN PUBLIC LATIN AMERICA AND ARGENTINA ADM INISTRATION CARIBBEAN TRINIDAD & TOBAGO LIM ITED FINANCIAL RESOURCES URUGUAY (COORDINATING)

POOR INSTITUTIONAL RELATIONSHIPS NETWORK OF ACTIVE BASEL CENTRES INDONESIA

INADEQUATE INFRASTRUCTURES ASIA CHINA INDIA ABSENCE OF FORM ALISED STRATEGIES

SENEGAL (FRENCH) CULTURAL AND POLITICAL PRIORITIES EGYPT (ARABIC) AFRICA SOUTH AFRICA (ENGLISH)

NIGERIA (COORDINATING) CAUSES 11 12

APPROACH TO ACTIVITIES SOME PRODUCTS

• EACH ACTIVITY IS DONE IN COLLABORATION WITH THE HOST COUNTRY • A SCOPING VISIT IS A PREREQUISITE TO GAINING SUPPORT AND CREATING • WEBSITE AT www.baselpretoria.org.za AWARENESS • SPECIAL COUNTRY AND TOPIC SPECIFIC CDs • TRAINING IS BASED ON AFRICAN SITUATIONS AND CASE STUDIES • INFORMATION BROCHURES • INVOLVEMENT OF LINKAGE NETWORKS IS • REPORTS OF VARIOUS TRAINING SESSIONS ENCOURAGED UNDERTAKEN FROM 2001 TO 2005 • HOST COUNTRIES ARE ENCOURAGED TO PROVIDE OR OBTAIN PARTIAL FUNDING • EACH COURSE IS EVALUATED • A RECORD IS KEPT OF ALL OPERATIONAL 13 14 TRANSACTIONS

TRAINING COURSES/WORKSHOPS WEBSITE www.baselpretoria.org.za ALREADY HELD BY 2002

• HAZARDOUS WASTE SEMINARS FOR SENIOR » GENERAL INFO ABOUT THE CENTRE DECISION MAKERS IN KENYA AND » INFORMATION ON COUNTRIES TANZANIA » PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMMES • ALL LINKAGE INSTITUTIONS AND FOCAL » BUSINESS PLAN POINTS (PRETORIA X2) » PROGRAMMES • REGIONAL GENERAL HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT COURSES (UGANDA/GHANA) » EVENTS • COUNTRY SPECIFIC MEDICAL WASTE » PHOTO ALBUM COURSES (ZAMBIA/GAMBIA/) » LINKS » DATABASE » DOCUMENTS 15 16

TRAINING COURSES/WORKSHOPS COURSES/WORKSHOPS ALREADY HELD IN 2002 CONDUCTED IN 2003-05 • WASTE REGULATION WORKSHOP IN • COUNTRY SPECIFIC COURSES ON MAURITIUS TRANSPORT OF HAZARDOUS WASTE AFRICA (BOTSWANA/SOUTH AFRICA/NIGERIA) • WASTE OIL MANAGEMENT- CAPE • COURSES ON INITIATION OF PROJECTS AND TOWN PROJECT PROPOSALS (PRETORIA) • REGIONAL COURSE ON GENERAL • COMMERCIAL COURSE IN HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT FOR THE INDUSTRY HAZARDOUS WASTE IN MOZAMBIQUE (South Africa) • COURSES ON INITIATION OF PROJECTS • TRAINING OF TRAINERS IN HZW (Pretoria) AND PROJECT PROPOSALS (PRETORIA) • WORKSHOP ON ASBESTOS MANAGEMENT • HEALTHCARE WASTE MANAGEMENT

17 18

Workshop on the Rotterdam Convention, 19-23 June, Pretoria, South Africa p 48

SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS PERFORMANCE SO FAR FUNDING FROM MARCH 2000-APRIL 2006 • INCREASED AWARENESS OF THE CENTRE AND ITS SERVICES TOTAL RANDS 15,505,427 SPENT SO FAR • INCREASED AWARENESS ABOUT HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT SOURCE: • INCREASED COMMITMENT OF RESOURCES BY – DANISH GOVT 48.4.7% SOME COUNTRIES – SOUTH AFRICAN GOVT-23.7% • IMPROVED WORKING RELATIONSHIPS – ADDITIONAL FUNDS ATTRACTED BY THE BETWEEN FOCAL POINTS AND LINKAGE CENTRE -27.9.3%* INSTITUTIONS • SELF-INITIATION OF PROJECTS BY SOME COUNTRIES *((UN agencies, (Unep, FAO,WHO, UNIDO)) (JICA), John Snow • 1500 TRAINEES BENEFITED BETWEEN 2001-2005 Inc (USA, country co-funding))

19 20

PERFORMANCE SO FAR PERFORMANCE SO FAR W ORKSHOPS AND SEMINARS VENUES FOR W ORKSHOPS/SEMINARS-2001-2005 FROM 2000-2005 SOUTH AFRICA-23 (12 REGIONAL, 11 COUNTRY)-53.6% TANZANIA------3 (1 REGIONAL AND 2 COUNTRY)-7% BOTSWANA------3 (3 COUNTRY)-7% TOTAL WORKSHOPS/SEMINARS-43 ZAMBIA------2 (1 REGIONAL-1 COUNTRY)-4.7% MAURITIUS------2 (2 COUNTRY)-4.7% REGIONAL WORKSHOP/SEMINARS (FULLY FUNDED)-17 THE GAMBIA ---1 (1 COUNTRY)-2.3% KENYA------1 (1 COUNTRY)-2.3% UGANDA------1 (1 REGIONAL)-2.3% COUNTRY WORKSHOPS/SEMINARS (CO-FUNDED)-26 MALAWI------1 (1COUNTRY)-2.3% SEYCHELLES------1 (1 COUNTRY)-2.3% TOTAL TRAINEES 1500 ETHIOPIA------1 (1 REGIONAL)-2.3% DRC------1 (1 COUNTRY)-2.3% NIGERIA------1(COUNTRY) 2.3% MOZAMBIQUE----1 (1 REGIONAL)-2.3% GHANA------1 (1 REGIONAL)-2.3% 21 22

NEW MANDATE OF THE CENTRE PROGRAMMES IN THE PIPELINE

1) A LONG TERM MULTIMILLION • TO UNDERTAKE ACTIVITIES WITHIN THE DOLLAR REGIONAL PROJECT IS BEING NEPAD ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES DEVELOPED TO BE EXECUTED BY THE (AMCEN DECISION IN 2002) BASEL CENTRE IN COLLABORATION WITH THE SWEDISH CHEMICALS INSPECTORATE –TO BE FUNDED BY • JOINT COLLABORATION WITH THE RELATED THE SWEDISH GOVERNMENT . IT IS MEAs NAMELY THE ROTTERDAM AND STOCKHOLM CONVENTIONS AIMED AT PROGRAMMES THAT WILL (THROUGH VARIOUS COP DECISIONS IN THE PROMOTE JOINTLY THE RELATED PIC AND POP) CHEMICALS AND WASTES MEAs- EXPECTED TO TAKE OFF LATE IN 2006 23 24

PROGRAMMES IN THE PIPELINE CONCLUSIONS

2) THE CENTRE IN COLLABORATION WITH THE CENTRE IS AVAILABLE AND A PRIVATE COMPANY IN SOUTH LOOKS FORWARD TO AFRICA AND THE FRANCOPHONE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH BASEL CENTRE, HAS WON A BID TO UNDERTAKE A WORLD BANK PROJECT THE ROTTERDAM ON SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT CONVENTION LEARNING PROGRAMME FOR AFRICA- IT IS A TWO YEAR PROJECT WORTH USD 150,000 WITH A POTENTIAL TO ATTRACT ADDITIONAL FUNDING. – EXPECTED TO TAKE OFF BEFORE END OF 2006 25 26

THANK YOU

27

Workshop on the Rotterdam Convention, 19-23 June, Pretoria, South Africa p 49

11. The Africa Stockpiles Programme

Africa Stockpiles Programme Attempt to answer:

Overview What, Who, How, When Rotterdam Convention June 23rd 2006

Who am I What is the ASP?

• Dr Kevin Helps • Regional phased • Senior Technical Officer programme • ASP Technical Support Unit at FAO • Focus on prevention • Regional support to disposal issues and disposal of obsolete pesticides • Hosted at DEAT • Strategic partnership • 10 years as a disposal contractor • 6 years with FAO • [email protected]

What does it look like? What does it do?

• Disposal of existing stockpiles • Prevention of future accumulations • Develop capacity at national and regional level • Looks to stimulate other projects

What does this mean? How is this done?

• Disposal: • Prevention • By country teams – Inventory – Legislation • With support: – Environmental – Management – TSU / FAO assessment – Alternatives – Other partners – Safeguarding – Communications – Consultants – Final disposal – Contractors

Workshop on the Rotterdam Convention, 19-23 June, Pretoria, South Africa p 50

NPSC

NPCC Who pays?

PMT • Typically through World Prevention TT Disposal TT Bank Grant TA – GEF Support CESA for ASP-P1 – Country donors Alternatives Communications – Private sector assessment & Awareness • Can be through parallel Pesticide Container Soils finance Pesticide Legislation and disposal & management remediation Management Buried • Needs local counterpart pesticide budget

When does it start?

• Phase I already has • Phase II must wait for a critical mass – why? Thank you • Necessary to allow GEF support • Countries can take the initiate Any questions please send a short e- • To be ASP it must follow the mail to: programme systems: – Operational manual [email protected] – CESA – M&E

Workshop on the Rotterdam Convention, 19-23 June, Pretoria, South Africa p 51

12. Working Groups

Introducing drafting group’s task

The goal of the meeting has been to increase awareness of the benefits and obligations of the Rotterdam Convention, and how this could assist with good chemicals management. During the breakout groups, the contents of the tables on ratification, import responses, SHPF and notifications have been discussed in mixed groups.

The tables to reflect the current situation, what should be involved and who is responsible should now be completed on a national basis. While the steps for ratification may be completed in full, non-Parties may wish, at this stage, to simply highlight the first key steps they would undertake to implement other aspects of the Convention in preparation for ratifications. Namibia and South Africa do not need to complete the ratification table, and may wish to include more detail in the other tables.

Additionally, to assist with presenting the detailed work undertaken this week, a narrative summary/introduction to the work completed this week as reflected in the tables is needed. The result should be something in the order of 2 pages maximum which in combination with the tables will be a key output of the meeting. The summary/introduction should put the results of the meeting in context, highlight the progress made towards ratification and implementation of the Convention, the key conclusions, priorities for action and next steps.

The summary should identify the Ministries that were present at the meeting.

Some of the priorities for action could include establishment of a group to work towards ratification and implementation of the Convention, as well as key individuals who will be able to take responsibility for progressing the work.

In parallel further actions could include integration of the work on the Rotterdam Convention in the national implementation plan (NIP) on the Stockholm Convention. This could include such cross cutting aspects as national legislation on chemicals and pesticides, working with customs authorities on strengthening capacity to manage imports and exports of chemicals, information management etc.

This summary/introduction and the accompanying tables will be an important reference document in explaining to others the status of ratification and implementation of the Convention, what remains to be done as of May 2006 and priorities for action.

As an outcome of this meeting the document is not written in stone, but should be seen as a working document. It should be seen as a basis for working at a national level and involving the other relevant Ministries in discussions towards ratification.

The results of the drafting group deliberations and the tables will be discussed and agreed in Plenary Friday morning.

Workshop on the Rotterdam Convention, 19-23 June, Pretoria, South Africa p 52

Possible Format for Executive Summary

Introduction

• statement of the purpose of the meeting • brief background e.g. Status of ratification, current activities on implementation • include a list of the Ministries that participated in the meeting

Ratification

Next steps required Process to be followed Stakeholders to be consulted Involvement of Parliament etc

Implementation of the Rotterdam Convention

• highlight gaps in capacity to meet obligations of the Convention and current challenges (note details of the needs are in the accompanying tables) • identify actions needed to fill the gaps including opportunities to integrate with ongoing actions at the national level e.g. Stockholm NIP etc.,(details are in the accompanying tables)

Priorities for action (Summary of what is in the tables)

• list those actions that can be under taken within existing resources and • those where external assistance might be needed

Next Steps

• briefly discuss proposed action is follow-up to the meeting in further developing and implementing the plan

Workshop on the Rotterdam Convention, 19-23 June, Pretoria, South Africa p 53

Working Group 1 BOG

Benefits of RC and the BENEFITS OF RC ratification process • Helps putting legislation in place for National Chemical Management • Minimizing impacts associated with use of Discussion group members: hazardous chemicals • Accessing of information from different parties Namibia for creation or amending national profiles Zimbabwe • Building capacity in terms of industrial chemicals Zambia and pesticide management Malawi • Accessing of information on the effects of new and old chemicals on human health and th 20 June 2006 environment

NATIONAL RATIFICATION WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE PROCESS ° Planning effective communication strategy • Lead organization – preparation of position ° Awareness creation and buying in ideas paper ° Situation analysis (who, when, how) • Stakeholder identification ° Gap analysis • Stakeholder involvement (objectives, situation analysis) ° Identifying the stakeholders • Cabinet memorandum ° Soliciting political will • Cabinet approval • Foreign affairs

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE WHO IS INVOLVED • Environmental agency - Initiator - Situation analysis • Agriculture - Gap analysis • Health • Industry - stakeholder identification • Environment - awareness creation & buying in ideas • Ministry of Justice ° Planning effective communication strategy • Local Government • Foreign Affairs - Environmental agency, min. Agriculture • Standard Boards ° Key stakeholders (Environment, Agriculture, Health, Industry, Justice, • Pesticide Boards Foreign Affairs) - Soliciting for political will

WHO IS INVOLVED WHO IS INVOLVED

• Non Governmental Organisation • Fisheries • Customs • Livestock industry • Farmers Union • Mines • Ministry of Commerce • Transport • Ministry of Labour • Chemical dealers • Consumers Association • Water affairs • Trade Unions • Learning Institutions • Occupation and Health • etc

Workshop on the Rotterdam Convention, 19-23 June, Pretoria, South Africa p 54

Thank you

Workshop on the Rotterdam Convention, 19-23 June, Pretoria, South Africa p 55

Working Group 2 BOG

BENEFITS FOR RATIFYING • Shared responsibility • Information exchange (within countries & internationally) • Inter-sectoral collaboration in Chemicals management at national level • Informed decision making • Control of imports • Guidance on exports • Assistance from exporting countries on capacity building • Secretariat assistance to get required information • Early warning system for potentially hazardous chemicals

NATIONAL WHAT NEEDS TO BE WHO IS RATIFICATION DONE? RESPONSIBLE PROCESS Identify lead agency Inter-ministerial Contact point/ DNA consultations Sensitize and consult all Meetings workshops etc DNA and core group stakeholders Draft cabinet paper Circulate for comments DNA and core group from stakeholders Incorporate comments Screen comments and edit DNA and core group from stakeholders accordingly Present Cab paper & Review and amend Cab State legal advisor convention text to state paper legal advisor Present cabinet paper to Oral presentation and responsible minister & CCL (redraft & present defending technical advisor (usually again if rejected) from core group) Present cabinet paper to Oral presentation and responsible minister & full cabinet defending technical advisor (usually from core group) Present Cabinet paper to Oral presentation and responsible minister parliament defending Finalization of process Final paper work and legal division & Foreign actual deposition of Affairs instrument

DECISION MAKING PROCESS • Cost benefit analysis • Human resources requirements • Legislative implications (review or enact new) • Socio-economic and political impacts considerations • Institutional arrangements for implementation

CHALLENGES • Political resistance which can be overcome by aggressive lobbying

Workshop on the Rotterdam Convention, 19-23 June, Pretoria, South Africa p 56

• Bureaucracy which can be overcome by perseverance and establishing key people responsible

Workshop on the Rotterdam Convention, 19-23 June, Pretoria, South Africa p 57

Session 2 Working Group 1

Session 2 – Import Responses

What has been done

- South Africa has import responses listed in Annex III

What needs to be done

1. Establish consultation committee 2. Collect data about chemicals and pesticides use or lack of use and reasons for this, ensuring this information is accurate and reliable 3. Data compilation/analysis 4. Seek information from other countries with similar environmental characteristics 5. Assessment of safety measures about the chemicals and pesticides used 6. Advise various stakeholders, certain information needs to be collected 7. Implications of decisions to be considered

Who is responsible

- DNA

Who is involved

1. Environment 2. Agriculture 3. Health 4. Industry 5. Trade 6. Science and Technology 7. Customs

Legislative and administrative measures to communicate import decisions

- Information from Committee through the media, gazettes, newspapers

Implications of decisions

1. Recommendations for alternatives 2. Grace period required before phasing out

Challenges to implement the procedure for preparation and submission of import responses

1. Getting detailed, relevant, timely, reliable information 2. Searching for alternatives 3. Socioeconomic implications

Workshop on the Rotterdam Convention, 19-23 June, Pretoria, South Africa p 58

4. Lack of co-operation from focal persons of some sectors 5. Difficult in synchronizing and collecting data.

How PIC procedure might complement regulatory process for chemicals/pesticides

1. Information exchange 2. Shared responsibilities 3. Harmonising chemicals management 4. Creating synergies between fragmented legal institutions.

Workshop on the Rotterdam Convention, 19-23 June, Pretoria, South Africa p 59

Working group 2

Current legal What has been What needs to be Who is infrastructure/ done done responsible/involved Admin procedure and how to do it Permit/ licensing Required importer Set clear guidelines DNA with National of importers to apply for permit and procedures for Chemical to import for the screening stakeholder control of imports chemicals Committee Use of existing Issuing of decrees Review of Legal divisions with legislation, even to control imports legislation to have core group from though it might not based on relevant specific committee be specific to clauses in existing comprehensive chemicals legislation national legislation management on chemicals management. Strengthen Compliance Implementing monitoring agencies National Hold Regular In some cases, Chemicals meetings for meetings not taking stakeholder prompt decision place, therefore Committee (Govt making on import need to: sectors, NGOs, - Use emails DNA Industry) with a to get screening criteria submissions f committee members - Submit interim Available response Committee pending members final decision form committee - Solicit DNA political buy in to facilitate incentive issuing - Delegation Committee of relevant duties - Allocation of resources to hold meetings Communication to Issuing updated Awareness raising Committee

Workshop on the Rotterdam Convention, 19-23 June, Pretoria, South Africa p 60

Customs to stop documents to help and proper training the import of in chemical of key players banned chemicals screening. Incorporating list in websites for easy access by Customs officials and industry. Make industry part of the committee to communicate decisions to membership. Attach inspectors at entry points to facilitate training of customs officers. Publication of decisions in media.

- The DGD is used as a reference to make an informed decision - Other references used: • EPA, EU website • WHO Publications • Research Publications (National and International) • Pesticides Manual Constraints

Illegal Productions – Compliance Monitoring False declarations – Capacity identify chemicals Porous borders – Revise border control Measures Lack of cooperation stakeholders, especially where there are no incentives for participation Lack of supporting domestic legislation –Need to do a legislative review to make it mandatory to comply with the provisions of the Convention

Benefits of the PIC procedure

Improves chemicals management Serves as an early warning system Gives guidance on legislative review Integration of national sectoral laws to one comprehensive legislation

Workshop on the Rotterdam Convention, 19-23 June, Pretoria, South Africa p 61

Session 3 Working Group 1

SESSION No. 3 GROUP WORK

Countries in Group: Mozambique, Nigeria, Lesotho, RSA, Swaziland & Zimbabwe

Available What has been done? What could be done in Who is responsible/involved infrastructure for future? and how is it done? pesticide poisoning reporting Poison Centre in a Requesting industry to Need to take blood Employers (e.g. parastatals & hospital, e.g. RSA. train end users, e.g. in samples for analysis big farming concerns) But this handles a Nigeria. from people who use cross section of pesticides regularly, e.g. Chemical industry poisoning issues. Training of farmers on in cotton, sugar cane, & correct pesticide use intensive horticultural Ministry of Agriculture Other countries do during the usual systems. not have a clearly training at rural centres. Ministry of Environment defined reporting Create awareness to structure or capacity report pesticide Departments of Labour has not been built poisoning cases. yet. Ministry of Health

There is no Nothing much in many Need a strong Stakeholders mentioned in mechanism in place countries. commitment by column 3 plus Industry and in most countries. Ministry of Agriculture farmers. Other countries have to establish a reporting developed labelling mechanism working according to extent of with other stakeholders hazard of a pesticide, such as: e.g. purple labelling in Zimbabwe, where: Labour Environment Distributors of purple Local Govt label are licensed Health Industry & distributors Farmers justify NGOs purchase of a purple label & purchase is recorded at point of sale.

Other issues: In some cases chemical poisoning is confused with symptoms of other diseases. Hence, need to involve medical fraternity – especially those that work closely with user communities.

Workshop on the Rotterdam Convention, 19-23 June, Pretoria, South Africa p 62

Benefits from PIC Circular: Early warning tool - can relate to what other Parties are doing on a particular pesticide & create awareness on whether you should act.

Can stimulate further information collection from Convention Secretariat and other DNAs.

Allows a Party to be proactive to come up with strategies, e.g. research on other alternatives to the pesticides under SHPF.

Workshop on the Rotterdam Convention, 19-23 June, Pretoria, South Africa p 63

Session 3 Group 2

Severely hazardous pesticide formulations – group 2

Available infrastructure

Pharmacy medicine and poisoning committees Pharmacy and poison boards Ministry of Health (poison cases) National poisoning centres

What has been done

DNA is in place System in place to report pesticide effects (Agriculture extension officers

What could be done in the future

Put in place a system or mechanism for reporting Chemical hazardous communication system (through extension officers, farmer union Systems for accurate diagnosis (specific diagnosis of poisonings) Poisoning centres Training on pesticide poisoning diagnosis (agro-medicine) Awareness program for stakeholders Improve capacity of laboratories

Who is responsible DNA

Who is involved

Extension workers (Ministry of Agriculture) Farmers union Health workers (Ministry of Health) Labs (Research and medical standard) Universities Farm workers Agrochemical Industries.

Information flow relating to chemical hazardous communications

Poisons Centre
DNA
Secretariat   Agriculture, farmers, health, environment

Workshop on the Rotterdam Convention, 19-23 June, Pretoria, South Africa p 64

Session 4 Group 1

Rotterdam Workshop – Third group session: Notification

Countries: Lesotho, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Mozambique and Nigeria

Current legal What is being done What needs to be Who is responsible infrastructure/admin done procedure Act of parliament Implementation of • Monitoring and Environment. requirement a set procedure Enforcement of Health or the laid down agriculture depts. procedure As relevant in each country

• Some countries Legal divisions still need to stakeholders promulgate relevant legislation • Integration of different sectoral laws into a framework chemical management legislation Importer applies for • Screening of Setting clear Health Dept or registration of company using screening Committee chemical, in some set guidelines and guidelines and countries, company procedure procedures must have been • Review of registered with submitted agriculture (must documents have the capacity to • Application for deal with the import of chemical) industrial chemicals (Nigeria, Zim) must be done (chemical composition, quantities etc) Agric dept does • Field Efficacy Improve on the Agriculture dept evaluations for tests (may last for time taken to efficacy 2-3 seasons) compile reports • Compilation of

Workshop on the Rotterdam Convention, 19-23 June, Pretoria, South Africa p 65

evaluation report

Health dept does • Literature review Increase capacity Health Dept toxicology of toxicological to carry out batch evaluation. information on sampling and chemical analysis of the • Compilation of toxicity of toxicology chemical evaluation reports

Consultation with • Literature review DGD may be used Environment Dept environment dept and for ecotoxicity compilation evaluation of reports Review of both Registration of Full review may Registration Board/ reports and then chemical be done by the health/Environment/ pesticide is multi-sectoral Agriculture registered committee to cut on the time taken by documents from on sector to another If active ingredient Analysis of Increase capacity Research institute is new, research chemicals to of research institute is involved ascertain toxicity institutions in the evaluation

Documentation of Regulatory decision

• Publication of a government gazette, where there is a given period where gazette is open to comments and/ or objections. After this period, gazette is adopted. • Advertise in media • Publish in a form of a regulation

Challenges

• Insufficient capacity to carry out risk analysis, hazard evaluations ( In terms of funding, human resources and equipment) • Insufficient evidence of exposure within the countries • Lack of capacity to carry out full socio-economic assessment • Minimal Cooperation among government regulatory bodies • Conflict of interest with commerce and trade promotion sector

Benefits of Notifications in PIC Circular

• Precautionary measure – Early warning system • Guidance for decision-making • Protects the country from having to deal with unwanted chemicals

Workshop on the Rotterdam Convention, 19-23 June, Pretoria, South Africa p 66

Session 4 Group 2

Final Notification Upstairs Group Zambia, Namibia, South Africa, Malawi

Current legal infrastructure What has been What needs to be Who is done done responsible Current legal No notification 1. Information -DNA arrangements has been gathering procedure/organizations submitted on Committee - Environmental chemical of key Protection and - Legal name, stakeholders Pollution Control arrangeme properties Act. nts are in etc, and all - Farm/Feeds/Stock place to to be Act ban and assessed - Pesticide Act 2000 restrict. against - Environment - Procedures requiremen management Act in place ts of Annex - Pharmacy/medicine for 1. and poison Act banning 2. Preparation Administrative and of arrangements. restricting notification -MOA -Pesticide Control How is Board regulatory action -Environmental Affairs documented Dept. - by publication Means of administration in Gazette - Regulations - by - Registration Statutory - Licensing Ministerial - Use/ban/restrict Instrument

Risk evaluation Precautionary basis Risk assessment done by others(e.g. DDT)

All notifications will be done based on the existing legislation.

Challenge to implement procedure - Concern of not having information and/or accessing relevant information - High staff turnover - Low commitment from stakeholders

Workshop on the Rotterdam Convention, 19-23 June, Pretoria, South Africa p 67

- Budgetary constraints

Benefits from notifications- Early warning system

Workshop on the Rotterdam Convention, 19-23 June, Pretoria, South Africa p 68

EXECUTIVE SUMMARIES OF NATIONAL PLANS

Action Plan for Swaziland - Thobile Khumalo and Boniface Makhubu, 23 June 2006

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Swaziland in not a party to the Rotterdam Convention. However, Swaziland supports the spirit of the convention and therefore ha see it necessary to become party to it the Convention. The country has a Pesticides Bill (Ministry of Agriculture) that has been submitted to parliament for approval. In addition to the Bill, there are pieces of legislation like the Public Health Act (Ministry of Health) , Occupational Health Act (Department of Labour), Environmental Management Act (Ministry of Environment). The legislative framework makes a number of institutions or government ministries to b part of regulating chemicals management in the country. However there is no formalized structure of integration of activities of the different regulators of chemicals in the country. In addition the legislations listed above are not specifically dealing with chemicals management. Some clauses in such legislation are used to regulate chemical management in a way.

Benefits of being a party

Becoming party to the convention will assist in facilitating the implementation and enforcement of the Pesticides Bill once it has been promulgated. At the moment, the country does not have a clear picture of what chemicals are imported to the country and which chemicals are in use. Ratifying the Convention will provide for an integrated approach in monitoring imports, use and effects to human health and the environment. Through the Convention, there is information that would assist Swaziland in making informed decision on the use and imports of the chemicals. The Convention provides an opportunity to assess the implications of trading in the certain chemicals, to determine if there is still a need to use such.

The convention will help in the integration of chemicals management within the country and also facilitates collaboration of different stakeholders in chemicals management. An improved chemicals management system will in turn helps in the minimization and control of wastes that the country would have to deal with. From the information obtained from other parties to the convention, Swaziland stands to benefit from the information on the impact assessments, basis for decision to import, ban or restrict certain chemicals, which will also form a basis for the country’s analysis of effects of such chemicals. Through banning or restricting imports and use of certain pesticides, the country would benefit economically because our agricultural produce would not be rejected for having residues of hazardous pesticide formulations. The country will also have an increased capacity to deal with chemicals. Since Swaziland is party to the Basel Convention and Stockholm Convention, it is very important to be party to the Convention, since this will complete the lifecycle of chemicals management for the country. Implementation of the Convention also forms a basis for pollution Control in the country.

Requirements from parties

Workshop on the Rotterdam Convention, 19-23 June, Pretoria, South Africa p 69

By becoming part to the convention the country will have the following obligations:

1. Conducting an inventory of chemicals used to determine what chemicals the country uses 2. Training of trainers (extension workers, inspectors), customs, health workers 3. Budget for annual subscriptions to the secretariat to facilitate smooth operation of the secretariat. 4. Legislative review to come up with a framework law on integrated chemical management 5. Submission of notifications and import responses to the Convention secretariat 6. Preparation of National Implementation Plan for the Convention 7. Report to the secretariat on severely hazardous pesticide formulations

This may seem like a big task for the country, but the benefits for the country outweigh the costs of becoming party to the convention.

Priority Actions for Swaziland

The most important action for Swaziland is to accede to the Rotterdam Convention. The starting point will be setting an inter-ministerial committee (Agriculture department, Environment and Health) to agree on the lead agency. However, as this process is ongoing, there are activities that may be started to prepare for implementation of the Convention once it comes to force for Swaziland. One of these activities would be to put is place the chemical stakeholder committee and start carrying out an inventory of pesticides and industrial chemicals that are still in use in the country. The legislative review and following up of the Pesticides Bill can be done to prepare for implementation. In addition to these, while the accession process is underway, a DNA may be appointed to facilitate the implementation of the Convention for the country.

The following table provides details of what the country needs to do both before and after becoming party to the Rotterdam Convention

Ratification of the Convention

Ratification What needs to done Time Who will be Process involved/responsible Identification of Consultation End of First Inter-ministerial lead agency between Health, week of July committee Environment and Agriculture (set an inter-ministerial committee) Sensitization Meetings with Inter-ministerial and relevant 1st week of committee consultations stakeholders* August with stakeholders

Workshop on the Rotterdam Convention, 19-23 June, Pretoria, South Africa p 70

Preparation and End of August Lead Ministry Presentation of cabinet paper Presentation to End September Lead Ministry full parliament Deposition of End October Ministry of Foreign instrument Affairs

* Stakeholders: • Ministry of Agriculture • Ministry of Health • Labour department • Trade Sector • NGOs • Industry (Employers and employees) • University of Swaziland • Agricultural Research Centre • Customs

Benefits of Ratification

Requirements to fulfil party obligation to Convention

Import response

Current legal What has What needs to Who is Time infrastructure/ been done be done responsible administrative measure No Pesticides Draft Promulgation of Ministry of By Legislation legislation Bill as an Act Agriculture February has been done 2006 (Pesticides Bill) No Industrial - Drafting and Ministry of By June Chemicals promulgation Environment 2007 legislation of chemicals with management stakeholder legislation committee Licensing of use - Setting up an of chemicals inspectorate Environmental • Issuing Monitoring and Ministry of Between Management Act decrees Enforcement of Environment Dec 2006 (EIA • Use of EIA existing – June Regulations) as a tool for legislation 2007 Stakeholder - • Preparing Committee 1st week committee screening of August setting up to criteria and

Workshop on the Rotterdam Convention, 19-23 June, Pretoria, South Africa p 71 screen chemical guidelines to facilitate prompt decision making • Availing the necessary DNA 1st week documents for of August committee to familiarize with screening of chemicals

Communication • Issuing March of import updated 2007 decisions documents to help in DNA and chemical stakeholder screening committee • Publishing of import decisions in media, gazettes • Making industry part of the chemicals committee for ease of communicatio n of import decision • Attach inspectors at entry points to facilitate training of customs Available - • Use of DGDs March alternatives and PIC 2007 circulars to assess use available alternatives

Workshop on the Rotterdam Convention, 19-23 June, Pretoria, South Africa p 72

Notifications

Current legal What is What needs to Responsibl Time infrastructure being done be done e • Environment • New • Licensing of DNA and December al industrie companies stakeholde 2006 – until Management s obliged and r promulgatio Act to do an chemicals Committee n of • Environment Impact used framework al Audit, Assessme • Initiation of law on Assessment nt, which a sound chemical and Review includes database of management Regulations all the chemicals • Pollution chemical in use as per Control s to be reports from Regulations used in industry. their • Licensing of processes importers • An audit and users of may be Annex III required chemicals from existing industrie s to provide a list of chemical s used Needs assessment of - Consultation DNA and October chemicals in Annex with relevant stakeholde 2006 – June III users and r 2007 regulatory committee bodies in identifying available effective and safer alternatives to facilitate decision making Administrative Licensing DNA with June 2007 Measures Use/Ban/ stakeholde onwards restrict r Registration committee

Risk Evaluation No • Precautionar DNA and June 2007 notification y basis stakeholde onwards has been • Hazard, r

Workshop on the Rotterdam Convention, 19-23 June, Pretoria, South Africa p 73

submitted evaluati committee on • Risk Assessm ent • Socio Economic impact assessment • Submission • Use of DGD and PIC Circular to decide on ban/use/restr ict

Communication of - • Regulation DNA and June 2007 Regulatory Action • Preparation stakeholde onwards of r notification committee report and submission to the secretariat • Publication of gazette • Publications in media

Severely Hazardous Pesticide Formulations

Current What is What can be Responsible Time infrastructure being done done body Health Centres All • Set up Health October chemical Poison Ministry and 2007 related Centres stakeholder cases are within the committee reported Clinics and (although hospitals not specific DNA with to • Train Health stakeholder pesticides) workers on committee symptoms of exposure

• Periodic assessment of Ministry of

Workshop on the Rotterdam Convention, 19-23 June, Pretoria, South Africa p 74

cases Health with reported in DNA these centres

• Improve capacities of available laboratories • Need to make periodic blood sample analysis to exposed workers Extension Interact with Train extension Ministry of March 2007 personnel farmers workers to Agriculture (train them train farmers on on reporting pesticides pesticides use and poisoning cases disposal) Research Ad hoc Commission Committee 2007 research systematic with onwards work on research on researchers effects of chemical (University, different exposure in National formulation communities Research Centre) Data - Proper Data Government June 2007 management management Computer onwards equipment system to record cases Reporting proposed severely hazardous pesticides formulations to secretariat

Workshop on the Rotterdam Convention, 19-23 June, Pretoria, South Africa p 75

Namibia

Introduction The meeting of 19-23 June 2006, was organized to provide an opportunity for participants to share experience in the ratification and implementation of the Rotterdam Convention. The rapid growth in chemical technologies and increased dependency on chemical products have posed unprecedented risks to human health and the environment by use and overuse of chemical products, as well as the possible hazard which can occur due to the uncontrolled disposal of Toxic/hazardous chemical products after their use. Namibia though not a large producer of chemicals is user of chemicals for industrial, mining, agriculture, domestic and others purposes. There has been little control over the use and disposal and management of these waste substances in Namibia. The later can only be achieved through proper and appropriate legislation. These include, Pesticide Registration Act No. 36 of 1947- handling and distribution of pesticides, Public Health Act of1919-rgulate hazardous chemicals for control of public health.

Although Namibia have gone a step a head to ratify, a lot still need to be done in terms of notifying the secretariat of the Convention, as one of the obligation agreed during negotiation by the party’s on import responses under the PIC procedure, with inputs from key institutions represented on the national committee (MAWF, MoHSS, MET, MLGoH, MTI, MMRF, MJ, MFA, NFU, ) on pollution and hazardous management, chaired by MET, DEA. The information required need to be accurate, reliable and analysed.

High priority agenda for Namibia Finalise data collection. Communicate/submit the national import decision on banned/severely restricted chemicals and pesticides, at the same time search for information on alternatives. Speed up the NIPs (Stockholm Convention

Implementation of the Rotterdam Convention Namibia’s out dated legislation need to be review, to accommodate specific comprehensive national legislation on chemicals/pesticides managements. Due to lack and/or inadequate and fragmented legislation controlling/management of chemicals in general, has led to importation of hazardous substances. There is room to include, review of national existing legislations in the National Implementation Plans (Under Stockholm Convention and other issue, under the African Stockpiles Programme) which are under discussion with the relevant stakeholders. Country specifications (what has been done)

Who was/is responsible: Ms Paulina P. Shiyelekeni (DNA) Leading agency for Ratification: MAWF-DEES

Discussion of the Convention at technical level Formations of national committee, Sensitize and consults (key stakeholders) on chemical/pesticide managements

Workshop on the Rotterdam Convention, 19-23 June, Pretoria, South Africa p 76

Sensitize and consults other stakeholders on the general management of Pesticides/chemicals (public participation) National ratification process: Signing of the Convention Review of national legislations in place that address some management of chemicals/pesticides (several workshops/meetings held) Discuss way forward (ratification)

Discussion of the Convention at political level Sensitize and consult key ministers on the subject of discussion (lobbying of support)

Drafting of cabinet memo by DNA

Leading agency (MAWF) minister table the convention at parliamentarians

Parliamentarians seeking Clarifications

After a satisfactory hearing the 2 conventions were approved for ratification

Notifications to the Secretariat of final regulatory action for banned or severely restricted chemicals Further consultation with key stakeholders, are essential for preparing/providing information to the DNA for notifying the secretariat. Some procedures are already in place, for banning, restricting (public Gazette by statutory Ministerial Instrument) and as well as precautionary basis, risk assessment. Resources needed for drawing up National implementation Plans Training some key stakeholders for better management of chemicals and pesticides in a sustainable and responsible manner.

Current legal infrastructure/Administration procedure Use of existing legislation, even though it might not be specific to management of some chemicals/pesticides.

What has been done -No notification is forwarded/submitted but, legal arrangements are in place to ban and restrict -Procedures in place for banning and restricting (public Gazette by statutory Ministerial Instrument) -Precautionary basis, risk assessment (DDT)

What needs to be done Continue collecting data about chemicals and pesticides use or lack of use and reasons ensuring that the information are detailed, relevant, accurate and reliable Data compilation/analysis Seek information from other countries with similar environment characteristics (RSA…) Assessment of safety measures about the chemicals and pesticides used Preparation of notification Review of legislation to have specific comprehensive national legislation on chemicals/pesticides management Strengthen compliance monitoring

Workshop on the Rotterdam Convention, 19-23 June, Pretoria, South Africa p 77

Allocate administration costs to hold regular meetings Who is responsible -DNA (P P Shiyelekeni)

Who is involved Agriculture Environment Health Local Authorities Industry Trade Science and Technology (UNAM) Customs

Legislative and administrative measures to communicate import decisions -Information from committee through the media, gazettes, newspapers and Radio (Print and Electronic Media)

Implication of decisions

Recommendations for alternatives Grace period required before phasing out

Challenges to implement the procedure for preparation and submission of import responses -Getting detailed, relevant, timely reliable information -Searching for alternatives -Socioeconomic implications -Budgetary constraints -High staff turnover

Benefits from notifications Early warning system Setting clear screening guidance and procedures for decision-making Protects the country from having to deal with unwanted chemicals

Workshop on the Rotterdam Convention, 19-23 June, Pretoria, South Africa p 78

Malawi

COUNTRY PRESENTATION: MALAWI

ELEMENTS OF NATIONAL PLANS AND STEPS TO FACILITATE RATIFICATIONS AND NOTIFICATIONS

Process for ratifications Benefits of the Rotterdam National ratification process What needs to be done Who will Who will be Convention for Malawi be involved responsible Will help to: • Putting in place a • Identify of relevant DNA (EAD • Agriculture • put legislation in place lead/responsible institution stakeholders & PCB) • Health for national chemicals (DNA) • Plan effective • Foreign management • Putting in place as committee communication strategies Affairs • minimize impacts of relevant stakeholders • Create awareness and buy • Justice associated with use of • Define roles of the relevant in ideas • Parliament hazardous chemicals in stakeholders • Conduct situation analysis • Environment the country • Preparation of a Cabinet • Conduct gap analysis • Standards • access information from Memorandum containing a • Prepare a Cabinet Board different Parties brief description of the memorandum • Pesticides regarding the creation or convention objectives, benefits • Solicit political will Board amendment of national and losses associated with the • Submit Cabinet • Customs chemicals profile convention, country obligations memorandum • Farmers • access information on under the convention and • to Cabinet Committee for Unions the effects of new and implementation strategies Parliament approval • Trade and old chemicals on human • Submission of the cabinet • Submit Cabinet Industry health and the Memorandum to Justice for memorandum • Transport environment legal opinion • to parliament approval to • Chemicals • Submission to Cabinet Foreign Affairs for dealers

Workshop on the Rotterdam Convention, 19-23 June, Pretoria, South Africa p 79

Committee for Parliament ratification instruments • Learning approval preparation and submission institutions • Submission of parliament to the Secretariat • Occupation approval to Foreign Affairs for health ratification instruments department preparation and submission to • the Secretariat Anticipated challenges

• Limited human resource capacity • Lack of stakeholder cooperation (chemical industries) • Divided interests among stakeholders • Limited influence by the DNA on the Cabinet/Parliament agenda

Possible solutions to the above challenges

• More capacity building programmes and staff redeployment • Awareness on the need for Malawi to comply to the Convention obligations

COUNTRY PRESENTATION: MALAWI

Import responses

Current legal What has been done What needs to be done infrastructure/administrative procedures • No import responses • Establish a chemicals Who will be Legal instruments • Using the existing instruments management responsible • Pesticides Act 2000 and administrative procedures, consultation committee

Workshop on the Rotterdam Convention, 19-23 June, Pretoria, South Africa p 80

• Environment Management Act, 1996 Malawi has been able to control • Set clear guidelines on DNA • Pharmacy, Medicines & Poisons Act import of chemicals which are procedures for screening • Malawi Bureau of Standards Act banned/ restricted such chemicals Who will be • Local Government Act • Collect reliable, detailed involved • Occupation Health and safety Act and accurate data on chemicals for screening • Environment Administrative infrastructure • Compile and analyzing • Agriculture • Pesticides Control Board data on chemicals • Health • Chemical registration committee • Seek information from • Trade & • Environmental Affairs Department other countries with Industry • Pharmacy, Medicines & Poisons similar environmental • Science & Board characteristics on the Technology • Malawi Bureau of Standards chemicals in question • Standards • Local Government • Assess risks/safety Board measures of the • Ministry of Labour • Pesticides chemicals being used Board Administrative procedures • Advise stakeholders on • Customs the implications of using • Cabinet Directives certain chemicals in • Media, Malawi • Gazette • Make final decisions on Notifications • the usage of certain • Licenses chemicals in Malawi and • Permits advise stakeholders on • Stop/protection orders the implications of such decisions

Anticipated challenges

Workshop on the Rotterdam Convention, 19-23 June, Pretoria, South Africa p 81

• Need for alternatives • Provision of grace period • Implications on the social-economics • Problems with getting detailed, relevant, timely and reliable information

Proposals for Severely Hazardous Pesticides Formulation

Available infrastructure for pesticides What has been done What needs to be done poisoning report • DNA in place • Develop guidelines on Who will be Available infrastructure • Systems to report on pesticides pesticides poisoning responsible • Pharmacy, Medicines and Poisons effects on operators/applicators management Committee established in agricultural • Put in place a DNA • Ministry of Health extensions in place mechanism/system for poisoning reporting Who will be • Conduct awareness involved training for stakeholders on pesticides poisoning • Extension • Conduct training on workers pesticides poisoning (Agric) diagnosis • Farmers • Establish poisons unions centres under Ministry • Health of health workers • Build and improve (Health) capacity of laboratories • Lab (medical and pesticides) technicians • High learning institutions

Workshop on the Rotterdam Convention, 19-23 June, Pretoria, South Africa p 82

• Farm workers • Agro- chemical industries

Information flow

Poisons centre
DNA
Secretariat   Agriculture, farmers, health, environment

How PIC procedures might complement regulatory processes for chemicals/pesticides

• Information exchange • Shared responsibilities • Harmonization of chemicals management programmes • Creating synergies between and among different chemicals management programmes in the country

Final Notification (current capacities and challenges in implementing the Rotterdam Convention) in Malawi

Current legal What has been done What needs to be done infrastructure/administrative procedures Current legal arrangements No notification has been submitted. • Information gathering on Who will be Procedure/ organizations • Legal arrangements are in place chemical name, responsible • Pharmacy, Medicines and Poisons Act to ban and restrict. properties and use to be • Environmental management Act • Procedures are in place for assessed against DNA • Pesticides Act 2000 banning and restricting. requirements of Annex 1 • Preparation of Who will be Administrative arrangements How is regulatory action documented notification involved

Workshop on the Rotterdam Convention, 19-23 June, Pretoria, South Africa p 83

• Agriculture • Pesticides control board • By publication in the gazette • Committee of • Environmental Affairs Dept • By statutory ministerial key instrument stakeholders Means of administration • • Regulations Risk evaluation • Registration • Precautionary basic risk • Licensing assessment done by others e.g. • Use/ban/restrict. DDT All notification will be done based on the existing national legislation

Challenges to implement procedure • Lack & difficulties to access reliable, detailed and relevant information • High staff turn over • Budgetary constraints • Insufficient capacity to carry out risk analysis and hazard evaluation • Insufficient evidence of exposure

Benefits from notifications • Early warning systems

Workshop on the Rotterdam Convention, 19-23 June, Pretoria, South Africa p 84

Executive summary

Introduction

The objective of the training workshop was to increase awareness of the benefits and countries obligations under the Rotterdam Convention. The workshop further considered how the benefits of the convention could assist countries to implement good chemicals management programmes. Three sectors participated in the training workshop and these include agriculture, environment and health.

Malawi is not party to the Rotterdam Convention. However the country has put in place the necessary legal instruments and administrative structures to help implement the conventions’ obligations. Some of the mechanisms, which have been put in place include: Pesticides Act 2000, which is being administered by the Pesticides Control Board; Environment Management Act, which is being administered by the Environmental Affairs Department; Pharmacy, Medicines and Poisons Act, which is being administered by the Pharmacy, Medicines and Poisons Board; Malawi Bureau of Standards which is being administered by the Malawi Bureau of Standards; Local Government Act, which is being administered by the Local Government; and Occupational Healthy and Safety Act, which is being administered by the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training

At the moment, Malawi has put in place a system through the Pesticides Control Board to register and issue licenses for import of pesticides for use in the country. Through this system, the country has been able to ban or restrict use of pesticides which are perceived to be harmful to human health and the environment in the country. In a way this is assisting the country to set an appropriate mechanism for implementing the convention.

Ratification

The country has put in place mechanisms for ratification. It has already designated two National Designated Authorities, which include Environmental Affairs Department and the Pesticides Control Board. Through the POPs enabling activities programme a committee of multi-sectoral stakeholders has been put in place to guide implementation of chemicals management programmes.

The DNAs in consultation with the Committee intends to conduct awareness programmes on the benefits of the Rotterdam Convention and implications for Malawi for not being party to the convention. Various stakeholders ranging from government, private sector, the industry, academic institutions, parastatals and the general public will be consulted during situation and gap analysis on the implementation of the convention. The findings from such analyses will lead into the preparation of Cabinet Memorandum to request Parliament to ratify the convention.

Workshop on the Rotterdam Convention, 19-23 June, Pretoria, South Africa p 85

Implementation of the Rotterdam Convention

To date Malawi has not submitted any notification to the Secretariat. However, the necessary legal arrangements are in place to ban and restrict chemicals. The regulatory action to ban and or restrict hazardous chemicals includes:

Publication in the gazette Statutory ministerial instrument Registration, licensing and issuance of import permits

This is being done based on risk evaluation and precautionary approach.

Gaps and Challenges to implement the Convention

These include Lack & difficulties to access reliable, detailed and relevant information High staff turn-over Budgetary constraints Insufficient capacity to carry out risk analysis and hazard evaluation Insufficient evidence of exposure

Actions needed to over come the challenges

These include Information gathering on chemical name, properties and use to be assessed against requirements of Annex 1 Conducting capacity building programmes Increased financial and material allocation Preparation of notifications

Priorities for actions

Within existing resources Establish a chemicals management consultation committee Set clear guidelines on procedures for screening such chemicals Collect reliable, detailed and accurate data on chemicals for screening Compile and analyzing data on chemicals Assess risks/safety measures of the chemicals being used Advise stakeholders on the implications of using certain chemicals in Malawi Make final decisions on the usage of certain chemicals in Malawi and advise stakeholders on the implications of such decisions Develop guidelines on pesticides poisoning management Put in place a mechanism/system for poisoning reporting Conduct awareness training for stakeholders on pesticides poisoning

With the requirement of external assistance

Conduct training on pesticides poisoning diagnosis Establish poisons centres under Ministry of health Build and improve capacity of laboratories (medical and pesticides)

Workshop on the Rotterdam Convention, 19-23 June, Pretoria, South Africa p 86

Seek information from other countries with similar environmental characteristics on the chemicals in question

Proposed actions

The Malawi delegation will take a leading role to steer the process of ratification and preparation of responses upon arrival

Agriculture

Will consult the agriculture sector on the Convention and mechanisms for its implementation in the country. The sector will further coordinate awareness programme on poisoning among applicators and extension workers.

Environment

Will lead the ratification process and coordinate stakeholders’ consultations at national level on the same

Health Will lead in the establishment of the poisons centres and coordinate information gathering on poisoning incidences at national level. It will further facilitate training in poisoning diagnosis.

Workshop on the Rotterdam Convention, 19-23 June, Pretoria, South Africa p 87

Mozambique

ACTION PLAN FOR MOZAMBIQUE

RATIFICATION

Benefit of RC • Create opportunity to put in place regulation on Chemical Management • Awareness • Early warning system gains Hazardous Chemicals – Precaution measure can be put in place

How the RC helps? • By alert in between countries regarding to potential dangerous chemicals • By providing the import with that export notification • Disseminating the list of Chemicals and Pesticides that are subject to PIC

What is the National Ratification Process in Mozambique? • National What need to be done Responsible Time Ratification consuming Process (Mouths) Creation of the Meeting with the relevant Ministries Actual DNA 2 committee • Preparing the text in order to talk with the communities regarding the RC and Committee 2 Approval by sensitise then on the advantages of RC Disseminated the text to the main relevant stakeholders and collect the cements ministries • Incorporate the comments from the communities and from the stakeholders. 1,5 • Make a Workshop with all stakeholders and the public in general to analyze the text 0,5

Workshop on the Rotterdam Convention, 19-23 June, Pretoria, South Africa p 88

and have comments. 0,5 • Make the last draft and sent it to Ministry layers for harmonize then and put then in a official form 0,5 • Make a Meting with the relevant Ministries where do have to explain then about the 0,25 advantages of RC and leave the text, to be presented to the council of Ministries

Get the • Make lobbies trough the relevant ministries to the ensured the approval of the Committee 1 approval from Council of Ministries Council of Ministries After ratification of the Parliament take necessary measure to send it to the Ministry of Foreign Affair to prepare an official letter to the RC Secretariat. Deposit of the Ratification at UNG Get ratification • Letter from the relevant ministry to the parliament Ministries/Committee 5 – 6 from the • Lobbies at Ministry level to the parliamentary in order to them discuss the issue Parliament asp. Deposit the • Letter to UN Ministry of Foreign 1

Workshop on the Rotterdam Convention, 19-23 June, Pretoria, South Africa p 89

Ratification at • Movement of some one to deposit the ratification at UN Affair/ Committee UN

Needs:

1. To the implementation of this working plan been a success it is important that the Committee put their effort on this. This committee must be focus during this period only on this matter and noting else. 2. The relevant Ministries must put some budget for cover expenses such us travellers, photocopies, venues, call phones, fuel, translations, etc… 3. The secretariat or FAO should provide one expert to participate in the workshop

Workshop on the Rotterdam Convention, 19-23 June, Pretoria, South Africa p 90

South Africa

PRIORITY ACTIVITIES FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ROTTERDAM CONVENTION IN SOUTH AFRICA

Import Consent

• Interim Decisions and Future import decisions

- DNA needs to establish a mechanism that will enable the country to make collective and informed decisions. (National Chemicals Management Committee will be established before the end of 2006) - DNA to develop a process to inform all relevant stakeholders about the final decisions. - Need to incorporate the provisions of the Convention during the review of Article 36 on registration pesticides and in our new Waste Management Bill, currently being developed. - Will look at a possibility of incorporation provisions of the Convention into Hazardous Substances Act (currently under review) to address industrial chemicals. - ??? Enforcement of the import decisions- through customs

Final Regulatory Action Notifications

• Substances banned prior to Convention came into effect

- DNA will coordinate establishment of national decision making sub- committee (some members should have eco-toxicology expertise) within the NCMC. - Final Regulatory action forms to be completed through consultation with the above sub-committee and submitted to the Secretariat

• Institutional arrangements for ongoing notifications

- The sub-Committee will review all the export notifications data annually and make recommendations on possible regulatory actions for those chemicals. - For Industrial chemicals or those that have adverse effects to aquatic systems NEMA provisions can be applied to ban or restrict.

SHPF • DoA to further review the procedures for reporting poisoning incidences- • Very few SHPF registered in SA, likely to experience problems in emerging farmers???

Workshop on the Rotterdam Convention, 19-23 June, Pretoria, South Africa p 91

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY FOR THE NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN FOR THE ROTTERDAM CONVENTON

Problem Statement

The Rotterdam Convention is about information sharing between countries trading with banned or severely restricted chemicals. South Africa a Party to this convention has obligations to implement all the provisions in the convention to ensure compliance. In implementing this convention, we are faced with challenges regarding the fact that our chemicals legislation is fragmented and administered by different government departments. It therefore becomes difficult for the DNA to fulfil his/her duties without a coordinating mechanism that will bring together all the relevant authorities when making decisions on import decision, national regulatory actions etc.

In addressing these challenges, we propose the following:

° Legally establish a National Chemicals Management Committee (which will be hosted by DEAT) ° The Committee will be constituted by all relevant authorities and address chemicals safety issues ° The Committee will have a sub-committee dealing specifically with all Rotterdam Convention provisions ° DEAT will provide Secretariat duties to the NCMC ° The work or the scope of the sub-committee will be to execute all activities as outlined in the attached plan ° Resource Requirements:

° DEAT as a DNA for this Convention will need to appoint an additional officer who will be fully dedicated to the implementation of the convention including liaising with the sub-committee, other DNA’s and the Rotterdam Convention Secretariat. ° The additional officer will also administrate the export notifications and compile a data on the chemicals received annually for review by the sub- committee as well as distributing PIC circulars to the Sub-Committee members for their consideration. ° Approve additional budget for funds required for execution of local activities such as awareness raising and information gathering, etc, as will be included in the section’s business plans.

Conclusion

We hope the above proposal will receive your favourable consideration and subsequently benefit the country in its objective to manage chemicals in the sound manner for the protection of human health and the environment.

Workshop on the Rotterdam Convention, 19-23 June, Pretoria, South Africa p 92

Zambia

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Rotterdam Convention is a Multilateral Environmental Agreement (MEA) designed to promote shared responsibility and cooperative efforts among parties in the international trade of certain hazardous chemicals. It is aimed at protecting human health and environment from potential harm and to contribute to environmentally sound use of these chemicals by facilitating information exchange about their characteristics. The convention also provides for a national decision-making process on the import and export of hazardous chemicals and disseminating these decisions to other parties.

This convention enables the world to monitor and control the trade in certain hazardous chemicals and it is not a recommendation to ban the global trade or use of specific chemicals. It is rather an instrument to provide importing parties with the power to make informed decisions on which of these chemicals they want to receive and to exclude those they cannot manage safely.

This convention was adopted on 24th September 1998 by a Conference of Plenipotentiaries in Rotterdam, Netherlands. The Prior Informed Consent (PIC) procedure for trading in certain hazardous chemicals was operational on a voluntary basis from 1998 to 2004 when the Convention came into force. After 2004, the interim voluntary (PIC) period ended and the Convention provisions became binding and only covered those countries that had ratified it.

Zambia signed the Rotterdam Convention in 1998 but has not yet ratified it. The country is susceptible to receiving hazardous chemicals and pesticides through trade without the protection that this convention provides. It is also important for the country to ratify this convention in order to benefit from its benefits including information exchange and rational management of chemicals in the country. Other benefits that the country stands to enjoy through ratification of the convention include sharing the responsibility in managing hazardous chemicals with other countries that are party to the convention. It is therefore in the best interest of the country to ratify the convention in order to protect both human health and the environment.

Zambia has both the legal and institutional frameworks to implement the provisions of the convention. The Environmental Protection and Pollution Control Act (EPPCA) of 1990 provided for the formation of the Environmental Council of Zambia (ECZ), a body which is mandated to protect human health and the environment. ECZ does this through the Pesticides and Toxic Substances Regulations of 1994. This institutional and legal framework makes it prudent to ratify this important convention.

1. RATIFICATION OF THE ROTTERDAM CONVENTION Benefits of RC National What Needs to be Who is for Zambia Ratification Done Responsible/Involved Process Will strengthen Environmental Planning an DNA- ECZ is country’s Council of effective responsible

Workshop on the Rotterdam Convention, 19-23 June, Pretoria, South Africa p 93 legislation on Zambia will communication chemical prepare position strategy Key Stakeholders management paper involved: Awareness Ministry of Tourism Will minimise It will also creation and Environment and impacts undertake soliciting of ideas Natural Resources associated with stakeholder (MTENR) the use of identification and Carrying out chemicals hold consultations situational Ministry of Agriculture on position paper analysis (LR) and Cooperatives to get their input (MACO) Afford access to information from different Position paper Identifying key Ministry of Health parties for will be sent to stakeholders (MOH) creation or MTENR Securing political Ministry of Commerce amending will and Industry (MoCI) national profiles MTENR will initiate a Cabinet Ministry of Labour Memorandum and Building circulate it to capacity in terms other line NGOs of industrial Ministries chemicals and including Justice Zambia National pesticide and Foreign Farmers Union, management affairs University of Zambia

Accessing of Minister of National Institute for information on MTENR presents Scientific and Industrial the effects of Cab memo to Research (NISIR) new and old Cabinet to seek chemicals on approval human health ratification and the environment, Will be able to effectively know CAB MEMO available submitted to alternative Parliament for chemicals to the endorsement hazardous pesticides) Ministry of Foreign Affairs Enable country submits to plan ahead instrument of ratification with RC Secretariat

Workshop on the Rotterdam Convention, 19-23 June, Pretoria, South Africa p 94

2. NOTIFICATION OF CHEMICALS THAT ARE BANNED OR SEVERELY RESTRICTED IN ZAMBIA

CURRENT LEGAL WHAT WHAT WHO IS INFRASTRUCURE/ADM HAS NEEDS IN. PROCEDURE BEEN TO BE RESPONSIBLE/INVOLV DONE DONE ED Environmental Protection No Informatio Environmental Council of and Pollution Control Act, Notificatio n gathering Zambia (EPPCA) of 1990 and its n on subsidiary Regulations submitted chemical MTENR although name, the legal properties Pesticide Review & admin. and use of Committee framewor chemical k is in which place to should be ban and/or assessed restrict against hazardous requiremen chemicals ts of Annex 1 of RC Preparation of notification by the ECZ Constitutin g the Industrial chemical Review Committee

Workshop on the Rotterdam Convention, 19-23 June, Pretoria, South Africa p 95

3. ZAMBIA’S IMPORT RESPONSE ON ANNEX III CHEMICALS

CURRENT LEGAL WHAT WHAT WHO IS INFRASTRUCURE/ADM HAS NEEDS RESPONSIBLE/INVOLV IN. PROCEDURE BEEN TO BE ED DONE DONE Environmental Protection No Collect Environmental Council of and Pollution Control Act import data about Zambia (ECZ) PPCA: response chemicals Use of Registration although and Key Stakeholders involved Licensing a pesticides Permits Pesticide use and Review lack of use Committe and e is in reasons place Expand national sources of informatio n on chemicals

Assessmen t of safety measures about the chemicals and pesticides used

Implicatio ns of decisions made and considerin g alternative s

Workshop on the Rotterdam Convention, 19-23 June, Pretoria, South Africa p 96

4. PROPOSALS FOR SEVERE HAZARDOUS PESTICIDED FORMULLATIONS

AVAILLABLE WHAT HAS BEEN DONE WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE WHO IS INFRSTRUCTURE FOR RESPONSIBLE/INVOLVED PESTICIDE REPORT Ministry of Health DNA-Environmental Council Putting in place an effective Poisons Board of Zambia is in place Chemical Hazard Communication Environmental Council of strategy and System Zambia System of reporting pesticide poisoning is in place (Agric. Capacity building in pesticide Key Stakeholders are involved: Extension Officers, Farmers poisoning diagnosis MACO, Farmers union, MOH Union, Rural Health Centres) Awareness programme for stakeholders

Setting up Poisoning Centres

Workshop on the Rotterdam Convention, 19-23 June, Pretoria, South Africa p 97

Zimbabwe

Brief Summary

Introduction: A meeting was held in Pretoria, South Africa from 20 to 23 June 2006, to create an opportunity for increasing awareness of the benefits of the Rotterdam Convention and on how this could assist Parties to the Convention with good chemical management.

Zimbabwe is not yet a Party to the Rotterdam Convention, but the process of acceding is currently under way. The memorandum to Cabinet was drafted and has since been presented to the Cabinet Committee on Legislation. Presentation to full Cabinet and Parliament is still pending. It is envisaged that the process will be finalized before or by end of 2006.

Ratification process: Having noted the link and synergies with the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) and the Basel Convention on disposal of chemicals, ratification of the Rotterdam Convention is being done concurrently with the latter two.

For Zimbabwe, the Ministries represented at the meeting were Health (Hazardous Substances Control Department) and Agriculture (Department of Research and Extension). Other key stakeholders not represented at the meeting, but that are key to the process of ratification included the Ministry of Environment, the chemical industry, Departments that deal with Labour, the Civil Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Industry and International Trade and employers that use chemicals. These players have been and will continue to form part of the consultative process during the preparations for ratification.

Implementation of the Rotterdam Convention: Acts of Parliament and attendant regulations for chemicals management do exist. A number of activities relevant to the Convention are already taking place. However, there is room for improvement in order to prepare for full implementation of the provisions of the Convention and derive benefit from it. There is a need to further strengthen a within-Party (national) database and make it accessible to stakeholders on activities such as: Pesticide registration Banning and restriction of use of some of the chemicals in Annexe III Control and management of chemical imports Licensing and monitoring of users of restricted chemicals The database would provide a good foundation for developing Notifications and Severely Hazardous Pesticide Formulation (SHPF) proposal submissions to the Convention Secretariat once Zimbabwe becomes a Party to the Convention.

Other areas of improvement for effective implementation of the Convention include: Training of customs officers in handling imports of chemicals and recognizing banned or severely restricted ones

Workshop on the Rotterdam Convention, 19-23 June, Pretoria, South Africa p 98

Medical surveillance of exposed workers, e.g. through regular sampling and testing of blood in populations that are highly exposed to chemicals. Toxicological evaluation of chemicals by actual laboratory procedures, where necessary instead of reliance of literature all the time Legislative review to incorporate all provisions of the convention Awareness creation to encourage reporting of poisoning cases Compliance monitoring Creating capacity for risk evaluation under prevailing conditions Strengthening of socio-economic analysis capacity

Priorities for action: A Poison Centre exists at Parirenyatwa Hospital, but has not operated effectively in recent times. As a priority, the Centre has to be resuscitated and equipped with a 24- hour hotline to facilitate early detection of effects of poisoning by SHPFs.

There is need to create a continuous system of information collection. Preferably, the system has to be computerized to make it easy to process data. It may be necessary to design an information collection datasheet that can easily be synthesized to act as a source of information for Notifications and proposals on SHPF.

Next step: As a follow up to the meeting, the focus should be on trying to complete the process of ratification of the Rotterdam Convention by pushing it for presentation to full Cabinet and Parliament. The final step would be to have the memorandum handed over to Ministry of Foreign Affairs, after further assessment by the Civil Division of the Attorney General’s office for the Head of state’s signature and finally, deposition with the Secretary to the UN in New York.

Understanding the benefits of being a Party and the process of ratification

National What has been What needs to be Responsibility (who is (Zimbabwean) done done involved & how) ratification process Identify lead agency Inter-ministerial Contact point/ DNA consultations held Sensitize and consult Meetings & DNA and core group all stakeholders workshops, etc Draft cabinet paper Circulated for DNA and core group comments from stakeholders Incorporate Screened comments DNA and core group comments from and edited stakeholders accordingly Present Cab paper & Reviewed and State legal advisor convention text to amended Cabinet state legal advisor paper Present cabinet Oral presentation Responsible minister & paper to CCL and defending technical advisor (usually from core group) Present cabinet Oral presentation Responsible minister &

Workshop on the Rotterdam Convention, 19-23 June, Pretoria, South Africa p 99 paper to full cabinet and defending technical advisor (usually from core group) Present Cabinet Oral presentation Responsible minister paper to parliament and defending Finalization of Final paper work Legal division & Foreign process and actual Affairs deposition of instrument

Benefits of ratification identified for Zimbabwe: • Shared responsibility • Information exchange (within countries & internationally) • Inter-sectoral collaboration in Chemicals management at national level • Informed decision making • Control of imports • Guidance on exports • Assistance from exporting countries on capacity building • Secretariat assistance to get required information • Early warning system for potentially hazardous chemicals

Decision making process • Cost benefit analysis • Human resources requirements • Legislative implications (review) • Socio-economic and political impacts considerations • Institutional arrangements for implementation

Challenges Political resistance which can be overcome by aggressive lobbying Bureaucracy which can be overcome by perseverance and establishing key people responsible

Import Response: Channel of Communication between PARTY & Convention Secretariat & Within a Party (Nationally) Scope: Annex III Chemicals

Current legal What has been done What needs to be Responsibility infrastructure/Admin done (who is involved & procedure how) Legal basis for import Guidelines and decisions: procedures for screening chemicals Permit/licensing of Exist. Continued DNA with importers. awareness creation Pesticides & Require importers to to ensure Veterinary apply for permits to compliance Remedies import chemicals. Committee (PVRC)

Procedure in place for Gazetting regulations Review of existing Civil Division in

Workshop on the Rotterdam Convention, 19-23 June, Pretoria, South Africa p 100 timely decisions: to control imports legislation to have the AG’s office based on relevant specific with PVRC Use of existing clauses in existing comprehensive legislation specific to legislation. national legislation chemicals on chemicals management. management.

Strengthen Ministry of Compliance Agriculture & monitoring. Ministry of Health

Legislative/Admin Need to establish DNA measures to communication communicate import mechanism with decisions: Convention Secretariat once National Chemicals Import decisions Zimbabwe becomes stakeholder gazetted & a Party Committee (Govt information sectors & Industry) distributed to all ports Need to delegate DNA with screening criteria. of entry for use by relevant tasks to ZIMRA (Customs). appropriate Govt Ministries in the process of decision- making

Allocate resources Ministry of Finance to facilitate holding of in-country stakeholder meetings for decision making Awareness of Awareness raising implications of and proper training importing chemicals or of key players such cessation of local as Agricultural production by all Inspectors and concerned: ZIMRA staff at all ports of entry There is official DNA in communication to Documents to help in Incorporating list in consultation with Customs in the chemical screening websites for easy Pesticides & Zimbabwe Revenue are issued out to access by Customs Veterinary Authority (ZIMRA) to ZIMRA as soon as officials and Remedies stop the import of they are updated. industry. Committee and banned chemicals. Industry that uses Attach inspectors at chemicals. entry points to facilitate training of

Workshop on the Rotterdam Convention, 19-23 June, Pretoria, South Africa p 101

customs officers.

Use of the DGD • The DGD will be used as a reference to make an informed decision • Other references to be used include: • EPA, EU website • WHO Publications • Research Publications (National and International) • Pesticides Manual

Constraints • False declarations – Capacity identify chemicals • Porous borders – Revise border control Measures

Benefits of the PIC procedure • Improves chemicals management • Serves as an early warning system • Gives guidance on need for legislative review

Proposals for severely hazardous pesticide formulations (SHPF). Scope: Any pesticide formulation that causes severe health or environmental problems under conditions of use in Zimbabwe

Current legal & What has been What could be Responsibility Admin done done in future (who is involved infrastructure for & how) reporting pesticide poisoning Record/reporting Centre Create awareness Designated system: established, but on presence of the National Authority, not effective Poison Centre i.e. DNA at the A poison centre Hazardous exists, but is not very Substances Control active & is not Dept & the Poison specific to pesticides Centre Improve service Poison Centre delivery by the Centre through provision of a 24- hour hotline

Workshop on the Rotterdam Convention, 19-23 June, Pretoria, South Africa p 102

Routinely train Ministry of farmers on correct Agriculture & use of pesticides & Farmer Unions encourage reporting on poisoning, during the usual training sessions at rural centres

Take blood DNA together samples from with: people who use Employers (e.g. pesticides parastatals & big regularly, e.g. in farming concerns), cotton, sugar cane, Chemical industry, & intensive Ministry of horticultural Agriculture, systems, for Ministry of analysis to Environment, determine any slow Departments of chemical poisoning Labour, of workers and Ministry of Health develop a reference data base. Create awareness DNA together with about need to the stakeholders report pesticide mentioned above poisoning cases

Defunct reporting & Environmental Revamp the DNA recording system Health officers reporting system & were used in the improve it by past to report further incidences of decentralizing, e.g. poisoning to incorporate Agricultural Extension Workers

Other information: The information collected through the reporting system can help identify formulations for consideration to submit a proposal under Article 6 of the Convention.

Benefits from proposals published in PIC: • Early warning tool - can relate to what other Parties are doing on a particular pesticide & create awareness on whether you should act. • Can stimulate further information collection from Convention Secretariat and other DNAs. • Allows a Party to be proactive to come up with strategies, e.g. research on other alternatives to the pesticides classified under SHPF.

Workshop on the Rotterdam Convention, 19-23 June, Pretoria, South Africa p 103

Notification. Scope: All chemicals that are banned or severely restricted in Zimbabwe

Current legal What has been done What needs to be Responsibility (who infrastructure done in future is involved & how) / Admin procedure If Govt Monitoring and DNA together with regulates enforcement of the Environment, Health pesticides/ laid down procedure or agricultural industrial departments chemicals: Integration of Civil Division of the A number of different sector laws Attorney General’s Acts of Implementation of into a single (AG’s) Office in parliament procedures set out in framework of consultation with exist to the Acts chemical management relevant stakeholders regulate legislation indicated above chemicals, e.g. Hazardous Substances Act (Chapter …), Fertilizers, Farm Feeds and Remedies Act (Chapter 18:12), etc Procedure to Application for Once Zimbabwe is a ban or restrict a import of chemical is Party, there is need for pesticide or done by importing the DNA to industrial company (with communicate chemical in information on decisions on banning Zimbabwe: chemical or restriction of DNA in consultation composition, chemicals to the with Environment, Importing quantity, etc, shown) Convention Health or agricultural company Secretariat departments applies for (Pesticides & registration of Documents submitted Those chemicals Veterinary Remedies chemical, by company are banned or restricted Committee) (company must reviewed to ascertain prior to being a Party have must have registration and will have to be also capacity to deal eligibility to import communicated to the with the the particular Convention chemical) chemical using set Secretariat guidelines and procedure

If decision to Efficacy tests, that ban or restrict a may last for 2-3 chemical is seasons, are done in based on the field for DNA in consultation

Workshop on the Rotterdam Convention, 19-23 June, Pretoria, South Africa p 104 hazard on pesticides with Ministry of review, risk Health, Ministry of evaluation Compilation of Improve on the time Agriculture & under evaluation reports taken to compile Industry prevailing evaluation reports conditions or Toxicological Need to create socio- literature reviews are capacity to carry out economic done by Ministry of risk evaluations under analysis? Health local conditions and strengthen socio- 1. Done based economic analysis to on hazard improve basis for review on decision-making to chemical and ban or severely some socio- restrict a chemical economic analysis

2. Ministry of Literature review of Need to increase Health does toxicological capacity to carry out DNA with Ministry of toxicology information on batch sampling and Health evaluation chemical analysis of the toxicity of chemicals locally Compilation of toxicology evaluation reports

3. Consultation Literature review and Once Zimbabwe is a DNA with Ministry of with Ministry compilation of Party, the Decision Environment of reports Guidance Document Environment (DGD) compiled by for eco-toxicity the Convention evaluation Secretariat on each chemical should be used effectively as a source of information in making a regulatory decision

4. Review of Registration of Full review may be DNA with Registrar both reports chemical done by a multi-sector of pesticides in and then committee to cut on Ministry of pesticide is the time taken when Agriculture, registered documents are moved Ministries of Health from one sector to and Environment another

5. If active Analysis of chemicals Increase capacity of DNA with relevant ingredient is to ascertain potential research institutions to research institutions new, research toxicity carry out own

Workshop on the Rotterdam Convention, 19-23 June, Pretoria, South Africa p 105 institute is chemical analysis involved in the evaluation

Documentation of Regulatory decision Publication of a government gazette, where there is a given period where gazette is open to comments and/ or objections. After this period, gazette is adopted. Advertise in media Publish in a form of a regulation

Challenges Insufficient capacity to carry out risk analysis, hazard evaluations ( In terms of funding, human resources and equipment) Insufficient evidence of exposure within the countries Lack of capacity to carry out full socio-economic assessment Minimal Cooperation among government regulatory bodies Conflict of interest with commerce and trade promotion sector

Benefits of Notifications in the PIC Circular Precautionary measure – Early warning system Guidance for decision-making Protects the country from having to deal with unwanted chemicals

Workshop on the Rotterdam Convention, 19-23 June, Pretoria, South Africa p 106