Presentaci

1
GHS Implementation in Uruguay MSc. FABIÁN
BENZO Implementation of the GHS Its
Relevance to the Stockholm Convention A Stockholm
Convention COP-1 Side Event Punta del Este,
03.05.2005
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• GHS Related Activities
• January, 2003
• American Chemical I.C.S.A., an Uruguayan company
  which supplies chemicals, initiates the
  implementation of the GHS. At present has
  classified the hazards for five of its products
  with the corresponding labels and safety data
  sheets.
• October, 2003
• Lecture on GHS in the Third Regional Meeting of
  Chemical Engineering.
• September, 2004
• The Faculty of Chemistry of the Universidad de la
  República organized the course
• New System of Classification and Labelling of
  Chemicals.
• November, 2004
• Participation in the South America Sub-regional
  Workshop on Chemical Hazard Communication and GHS
  Implementation (São Paulo, Brazil).

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• Principles of implementation
• Uruguay does not have specific legislation,
  regulations or standards easily modified to
  accommodate GHS (except transport sector).

• More must be done to spread information about
  the GHS.

• A specific unit must be created to implement the
  GHS, with the participation of all concerned
  parties (government, industry, workers,
  consumers, NGOs, University).

• Implementation of the GHS must be progressive,
  beginning with voluntary fulfillment and for
  those sectors where its application is easiest.

• GHS implementation should be integrated with
  regional initiatives and other relevant
  international initiatives.

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• Proposed GHS Activities under Consideration
• 2005 - 2006
• Organization of a national workshop.
• Creation of a committee for setting standards on
  chemical hazard classification and
  communication based on the GHS.
• Development of activities of diffusion and
  training.
• .
• 2007 - 2008
• Continuation of the activities of training.
• Voluntary adoption of the standards.
• Evaluation of the experience.
• Regulatory status of the standards?

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• Conclusions
• Uruguay has made some efforts towards
  implementing the GHS, but obviously these are not
  enough.

• At present we are coordinating actions in order
  to raise awareness about the GHS and its
  importance and to create the infrastructure
  necessary for its implementation.

• Uruguay is making efforts, within its
  possibilities, to comply with the goal of the
  WSSD and to have the GHS fully operational by
  2008.

What reasons could there be for NOT implementing
the GHS?