Challenges of GHS Implementation in Malaysia

1
Challenges of GHS Implementation in Malaysia

• Lack of expertise require competent classifier
  and translator.
• Government to step up commitment and
  coordination.
• Industry enhance awareness and buy-in, esp.
  SMEs.
• NGOs mixed, several are proactive, the rest are
  quiet.
• Researchers and academia must support, capacity
  building.
• Public/consumers awareness raising.
• Good information databases etc.
• Training programmes trainers commitments
  lacking.

• To leverage on the existing infrastructures and
  systems, and the strengths.
• ASEAN share experiences, knowledge and
  information, e.g. pool resources (human and
  financial).
• How to tie GHS and New Economic Model (NEM) high
  income (Oil and Gas), sustainability and
  inclusiveness.
• How to convince different levels of stakeholders,
  and how to market GHS.
• How to synergize GHS with other initiatives
  relating to chemicals management (EHS,
  Multilateral Environmental Agreements, MEAs)

2
Lessons learned from this experience

• Government GHS is anticipated to be beneficial
  to the country (Malaysia competitiveness in trade
  and human well being and environmental health).
• Be innovative and creative with limited
  resources.
• Bringing different stakeholders together
  (government, industry, NGOs and academia).
• Some countries and organizations are generous in
  giving supports (e.g. AOTS, UNITAR, WHO, APEC
  etc).
• The civil society demands the authority and
  private sector to implement GHS as soon as
  possible to protect human health and the
  environment (e.g. CAP).
• Translated version of purple book has enhanced
  understanding of GHS.
• We are confident that we can go further and also
  to complement other ASEAN member countries.
• We have learned that GHS implementation is
  complex, which need high commitments and
  preparedness to take long journey, and we must
  ensure continuity and sustainability.

3
Key Future Issues for GHS implementation for
Malaysia

• Different Government authorities are governed by
  different legislations and international
  guidelines in the control of chemical substances
  i.e. industrial chemicals, pesticides, cosmetics,
  and pharmaceuticals.
• Different sectors will be having different
  timeline for GHS implementation.
• Different levels of understanding of GHS
  (competent, aware but not fully understand the
  technical details OR aware but take it lightly OR
  totally unaware).
• Attitude problem by the industry - without new
  legislation / regulation enforced, no commitment
  to change or to be in the know on the
  developments, especially the SMEs.

• Continuity, institutional memory, and succession
  plans.
• Linkages of GHS with other initiatives and must
  contextualize appropriately.
• The request and demand of private sector is for
  the government of Malaysia to subsidize
  everything about GHS.
• Communication (databases and website)
• How to utilize modern media for information
  dissemination and enhancement.
• GHS must be a private driven initiative to get
  commitment and ownership.