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ECOWAS urged to seek efficient chemical waste management The Minister of Environment, Housing and Urban development, Mrs. Tayo Halima Alao, has called on the member states of the Economic Community of West African States to undertake implementation of sound chemicals management to check the hazards of chemicals on the sub-region. She stated this in address to the Regional Workshop on Chemical Hazard Communication and Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals Implementation for countries of the ECOWAS region, taking place in Abuja . Alao observed that the GHS, which is the international statndard for chemical classification and hazard communication, was an important new tool that countries could use as a basis for establishing comprehensive national chemical safety programmes. She said, “For us as a sub-region, the implementation of the GHS is definitely going to be a challenge in mainstreaming the GHS as a key and basic tool in protecting the environment and citizenry from the adverse effects of improper handling of harzardous chemicals through appropriate hazard communications and comprehensibility. “There is therefore the need for all the stakeholders to buy into the immense benefits offered by the GHS.” According to her, chemicals were essential for both social and economic development within the sub-region, but the positive effects are counteracted by threats caused by toxic chemicals through poor handling and releases into the environment. “The hazards posed by chemicals when they are handled or released into the environment are usually worst for Africans due to poor education and unavailability of information on the hazards and their cure,” she said. She added that since environmental problems do not respect national or political boundaries, it was critical for governments of the sub-region to promote safe management and use of chemicals to avoid continuous damage to the environment and health of citizens. The minister explained that the main goal of the workshop was to bring together key representatives from government, business and industry, and public interest and labour organizations to discuss GHS implementation and capacity needs in the four GHS-relevant sectors of industrial workplace, agriculture, transport and consumer products. She noted that the challenge of strengthening partnerships and ensuring coherence in the regional chemicals management framework through a regional GHS implementation strategy and harmonized GHS-compatible chemicals legislation was necessary. Alao said, “The need for us to catch up with developed nations in building capacity for sound management of chemicals is fundamental with the GHS as one of the key implementation gaps to be addressed. “Let us therefore as partners in progress continue to lend support for initiatives and programme that will enhance the achievement of the objectives of our various national reform programmes and global initiatives such as the GHS.” The minister said the ministry was fully committed to the objectives, policies and mechanisms for achieving sound national chemicals management, noting, however, that it would require the commitment and genuine involvement of all major sectors.
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