Status of the GHS Implementation in ASEAN and Japan

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Status of the GHS Implementation in ASEAN and
Japan

• Hiroshi Jonai
• Nihon University
• Tokyo Japan

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I am so sorry that the response from Cambodia is
lacking in the file.
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(No Transcript)
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A questionnaire survey on status of the GHS
implementation

• Target
• ASEAN (Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia,
  Indonesia, Lao Peoples Democratic Republic,
  Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore,
  Thailand and Vietnam) and Japan
• When
• July August 2010

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A questionnaire survey on status of the GHS
implementation

• Items of a questionnaire
• Lead ministry for GHS
• Other engaged ministries or coordination or
  committee (for GHS implementation)
• Current legal status (covering different sectors)
• Transition or phase-in periods from existing
  systems to GHS
• Training and capacity building activities
• Plans for 2011-20112
• Others (Building approach, International
  cooperation on GHS implementation)

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Summary of the results

• Most of the countries surveyed have set the GHS
  committee consisted of the ministries concerned.
• There is no country to introduce the GHS for four
  sectors (Industry, Agriculture, Transport,
  Consumers) at the present time (August 2010).
• Six countries (Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines,
  Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam) of ASEAN have
  prepared or considered to implement the GHS.
  Japan has implemented the GHS partly for
  industrial sector.
• There are big discrepancies among ASEAN in
  capacity building Indonesia, Malaysia,
  Philippines, Singapore and Thailand reported the
  activities for that.

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Status of the GHS Implementation for four
sectors in ASEAN and Japan
Country Industry Agriculture Transport Consumers
Brunei Darussalam No No No No
Cambodia No No No No
Indonesia Yes? No Yes No
Lao Peoples Democratic Republic No No No No
Malaysia No No Yes No
Myanmar No No No No
Philippines No No Yes No
Singapore Yes No Yes No
Thailand No No Yes No
Vietnam Yes No Yes No
Japan Yes No Yes No
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Conclusions and Recommendations

• As far as I know, most countries surveyed have no
  comprehensive system to classify and label
  chemicals. This means that the GHS is very new to
  those Asian countries. The way to implement the
  GHS or to set up support system in those
  countries would be different from that for EU or
  USA.
• There are some countries implementing the TDG,
  but mainly for air and sea transport. Land
  transportation in ASEAN and Japan would have
  another issue to implement the GHS or the TDG.
•  

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Conclusions and Recommendations

• Capacity building activities for the GHS are
  limited. First of all, the human resources and
  the budgetary support in ASEAN would be needed
  for popularization or raising awareness of the
  GHS in all sectors.
• A focal point or a contact person seems not to be
  definite in some countries. Strengthening the
  current network or making new network for the GHS
  should be done. This workshop could be the good
  chance for that.

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To finalize report

• The draft report in the file has not
  completed.
• Feedback on the status of the GHS
  implementation in Southeast, East and Central
  Asia would be much appreciated to finalize the
  report.

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I would like to express to responders my deepest
gratitude for their time and cooperation!