IFCS	Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety

29 August 2002

Vol.2 No. 5

 

Information Circular

 

CHEMICAL SAFETY AWARENESS RAISING IN IFCS REGIONS

 

Over the past 12 months, IFCS representatives have continued their efforts to increase global awareness on chemical safety issues.ü Summary reports of several of their accomplishments are included in this edition. We thank contributors for sending us this information. Readers are invited to provide to the IFCS Secretariat brief reports on chemical safety events in their countries for publication in a future Information Circular.

FSC SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

The Asia/Pacific Region recently announced the appointment of Mr Tsutomu Matsuda, Director, Office of Chemical Safety, Pharmaceutical and Food Safety Bureau, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare as the new FSC Vice President.

IFCS REGIONAL MEETINGS

With Forum IV on the horizon (November 2003), preparations in the IFCS regions have begun in earnest.

 For more information, please visit the regional section of the IFCS web site (http://www.who.int/ifcs/regional/regions.html) or contact your Forum Standing Committee Vice President (http://www.who.int/ifcs/ifcs-officers.html )

 

LATVIA

New Report on the Latvian Environment

The Report ÌEnvironmental Indicators in Latvia 2000O, using the five-phase environmental indicator model accepted by the European Environment Agency, has just been published. The full report (downloadable, in pdf format) and a summary web version can be found on the internet at http://www.vdc.lv/soe/2001_eng/.

Contributed by Arnis Ludborzs, Latvian Environment Agency

 

MADAGASCAR

Chemical Safety Daysüü 4 - 6 October 2001

 

Last October, as a first step in its information and awareness campaign, the intersectoral National Chemicals Management Committee organized 3 ÌChemical Safety DaysO at the National Library in Antananarivo.ü Activities were directed at those responsible for chemicals management in the public and private sectors, bringing together participants representing health, industry, agriculture and consumers affairs.

A series of debates and thematic exhibits gave participants the opportunity to discuss real problems and explore practical solutions.ü The event contributed significantly to the process underway to improve chemicals management in Madagascar.

Contact: Mme Faramalala Raveloharifera, Secretary General, National Chemicals Management Committee, Madagascar

 

 

SAMOA

26 March 2002- SamoaOs First National Chemicals Awareness Day

 

Thanks to the participation of schools, government departments, non-governmental organizations and many other stakeholders, SamoaOs first National Chemicals Awareness Day was a resounding success.

A National Task Team (NTT) comprised of representatives from government and non-government bodies and established under the leadership of the Government Department of Lands, Survey and Environment, coordinated all activities to celebrate this special day, including:

There is no doubt that this will be an annual event in Samoa.

Summary of article provided by S.A.M. Iakopo and Director of Agriculture, Forests, Fisheries and Meteorology (This position is the IFCS Focal Point for Samoa).

 

ZIMBABWE

In April, 2002, the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare sponsored an exhibit at the annual Zimbabwe International Trade Fair to alert the public on how to safely manage chemicals and respond to emergencies related to hazardous substances.ü Posters, pamphlets, stickers, T- shirts and caps with chemical safety messages were available for the 300,000 Trade Fair attendees. A theatre group performed skits on chemicals issues and entertained the crowd with a range of traditional dances and music.ü Attendees who completed a questionnaire available at the exhibit showed a good level of understanding on how to deal with chemical products.

Summary of article provided by A.G. Mangwiro, Chief Hazardous Substances Controller (This position is the IFCS National Focal Point for Zimbabwe).