PHA-Exchange> Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety: Global Chemicals Meeting Intensifies Commitment to Reduce Poisonings from Acutely Toxic Pesticides

[Claudio]

>
> > > Global Chemicals Meeting Intensifies Commitment to Reduce Poisonings
from
> > > Acutely Toxic Pesticides
> > >
> > > Bangkok, 7 November 2003 - The Fourth session of the Intergovernmental
> > > Forum on Chemical Safety (Forum IV) concluded its one week session
with
> > > substantive progress made to achieve sound global management of
chemical
> > > safety.
> > >
> > > The Forum recognized that poisonings of pesticide users must be
prevented
> > > and agreed to a wide variety of policy and regulatory actions
governments
> > > could take to reduce risk.  Among the possible actions to be taken is
the
> > > prohibition or restriction of the availability (including the use of
> > > import and/or export controls as desirable) and the use of acutely
toxic
> > > pesticides such as formulations classified by WHO as extremely and
highly
> > > hazardous and/or those pesticides associated with frequent and severe
> > > poisoning incidents. "We are very pleased with the outcome of the
> > > Conference, which had the highest turnout and many concrete
commitments to
> > > protect human health and the environment from exposure to toxic
chemicals"
> > > said Mr Henrique Cavalcanti, President of Forum IV and former Minister
of
> > > Environment and the Amazon, Brazil.
> > >
> > > Pesticide poisoning is a major public health problem in developing
> > > countries. The extent of the problem is unknown; the World Health
> > > Organization has estimated an annual worldwide incidence of 3 million
> > > cases of acute, severe poisoning (including suicides), matched
possibly by
> > > a much greater number of unreported cases of mild-to-moderate
> > > intoxication, with some 220,0000 deaths.  "Pesticide poisoning needs
> > > special attention. It is common knowledge that poisonings occur but
few
> > > have given it the attention it deserves. All of us - governments,
> > > intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, as well as
industry
> > > and private sector representatives -- moved to reach consensus to get
to
> > > where we are. Willingness, commitment, and compromise of all
stakeholders
> > > is the way forward, and we achieved it" said Mrs Cathleen Barnes, US
> > > Environment Protection Agency, USA.
> > >
> > > Delegates at all levels singled the need to protect children from
chemical
> > > threats and safeguard their environment.  "The enforcement of the
Forum
> > > recommendations will certainly promote actions at all levels which
will
> > > make the world safer for our children, now and in the future," said Dr
> > > Jenny Pronczuk, Medical Doctor, World Health Organization (WHO). There
was
> > > a strong call for action to mitigate known risks and to address areas
of
> > > uncertainty concerning children's exposure to chemical threats.
> > >
> > > The need to consider children's possible enhanced exposures and/or
special
> > > vulnerabilities whenever acceptable levels of exposure or criteria
related
> > > to chemicals are being set was emphasized. Governments were called to
> > > prepare initial national assessments of children's environmental and
> > > chemical safety. These assessments should identify the priority
concerns
> > > in their country, and provide the basis for developing action plans to
> > > address those concerns.
> > >
> > > Among the other major decisions taken at the Conference was the
acceptance
> > > of reducing the widening gap in implementation of policies between
> > > developed and developing nations.  Since many developing countries
have
> > > not yet put in place chemical legislation, inventories, and controls
of
> > > imports and exports, it has resulted in creating a widening gap in
> > > implementation. "It is time to strike a balance between furthering
more
> > > policies and helping those countries lagging behind", said Mr. Rashid
> > > Mokhtari, Deputy Secretary at the National Authority for Chemical
> > > Conventions, Iran.
> > >
> > > Substantive progress was made in the area of hazard data generation
with
> > > the agreement to establish a detailed programme for an international
> > > repository on hazard information that would be free of charge for the
> > > public. This data will help governments implement the new globally
> > > harmonized systems (GHS) for labeling of chemicals including chemical
> > > products in the work place and in the home by 2008. "This will be of
major
> > > use and will reduce the risks of poisonings, accidents and injuries
caused
> > > from misuse and lack of knowledge" said Mrs. Anna-Liisa Sundquist,
> > > Ministerial Adviser at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health,
Finland.
> > >
> > > The decisions adopted at the Conference will serve as a roadmap for
action
> > > until Forum V.  The Government of Hungary will host IFCS V by 2006.
Over
> > > 600 delegates participated in Forum IV from 155 governments,
> > > intergovernmental, and non-governmental organizations as well as
industry
> > > and the private sector.  The Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical
Safety
> > > (IFCS) was created in 1994 to integrate and consolidate international
> > > efforts to manage chemicals safety.