Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM)
SAICM basically plans to address the sound management of chemicals by applying best management practices to chemicals throughout their life cycle to prevent, to reduce or minimize the potential for exposure of people and the environment to toxic and hazardous chemicals. This requires strengthened governance, and improved techniques and technologies in the importation, use, storage, and disposal or recovery of chemicals in Belize.
The sound management of chemicals aids Belize in meeting its international obligations. In so doing, the sound management of chemicals is related to the eight (8) Millennium Development Goals (MDG) and has given most importance to the linkages between the sound management of chemicals and MDG-7: ensuring environmental sustainability. Basically, SMC linkages with the MDGs illustrates that strong SMC contributes to achievement of all of the MDGs, while weak SMC has the potential to impede achievement of the goals. However, chemicals play an important role with respect to human development more broadly and without good management practices they can pose significant risks to human health and the environment, with the poorest members of the global community most vulnerable to their negative effects.
The Sound Management of Chemicals (SMC) should be considered an important component of a country’s efforts to reduce global poverty and achieve the MDGs.
What is SAICM?
SAICM is not a legally-binding treaty. It does, however, constitute a global political commitment on the part of governments and others that recognizes health and environmental harms caused by chemical exposure and that pledges effective action to reform how chemicals are produced and used in order to minimize that harm. SAICM provides an overarching strategy to address problems of chemical management nationally and globally.
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Chemicals of Concern
· persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic substances (PBTs);
· chemicals that are carcinogens or mutagens or that adversely affect the reproductive, endocrine, immune or nervous systems;
· persistent organic pollutants (POPs);
· mercury and other chemicals of global concern;
· chemicals used or produced in high volumes;
· chemicals subject to widespread dispersive use; and
· other chemicals of concern at the national level.
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SAICM Project: Belize
Financed by: SAICM QSP (Quick Start Program) Trust Fund
Implementation agency: UNDP
Executing Agency: Department of the Environment, Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment
Budget: US$231,481
Launched: September, 2009
Duration of Project: 24 months
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Project Title
“Mainstreaming into Development Plans the Sound Management of Chemicals (SMC) Priorities for Key Development Sectors in Belize and Associated SMC Governance”
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Project Purpose
This project is part of a partnership initiative between the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to assist developing countries like Belize to take up the second and third strategic priorities of the SAICM Quick Start Programme (QSP), namely:
· “Development and strengthening of national chemicals management institutions, plans, programmes and activities to implement the Strategic Approach, building upon work conducted to implement international chemicals-related agreements and initiatives”; and
· “Undertaking analysis, interagency coordination, and public participation activities directed at enabling the implementation of the Strategic Approach by integrating – i.e. mainstreaming – the sound management of chemicals in national strategies, and thereby informing development assistance cooperation priorities”.
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Project Objectives
1. Identifying the links between major chemicals management problem areas and human health and environmental quality in Belize (main emphasis on the key development sectors).
2. Identifying areas of Belize’s national Sound Management of Chemical (SMC) governance that needs strengthening.
3. Development of a realistic phased plan for strengthening Belize’s national SMC governance regime.
4. Assistance for Belize to conduct a cost-benefit analysis regarding major chemicals management problem areas within priority development sector.
5. Propose a path to mainstream the highest priority SMC issues in Belize’s development planning processes plans.
Belize is one of the leading countries with the SAICM QSP; hence, this project advances our national objectives in the implementation of SAICM and will allow Belize to contribute replicable examples that will benefit other countries under SAICM.
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Project Team & Focal Point
Project Team
Safira Vasquez, Project Manager
Irma Sho, Project Administrative Assistant
Email: saicmbze@gmail.com
Contact details:
SAICM Project Coordinator
Department of the Environment
10/12 Ambergris Avenue
Belmopan City
Tel: (501) 822-2816 / (501) 822-2542
Fax: (501) 822-2862
Focal Point
Martin Alegria, Chief Environmental Officer, Department of the Environment, Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment/ SAICM National Focal Point
Experts Team
· Errol Vanzie, MD : Consultant, Environmental Health Expert
· Humberto Paredes : Consultant, Senior Economist
· Henry Alegria, PhD : International-National Consultant, Chemicals Management Expert
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Interagency Coordinating Mechanism (ICM): Project Committee
· Belize Agricultural Health Authority - Hernan Zetina, Coordinator Medfly Project
· Belize Customs & Excise Department– Doyle Flowers, Senior Customs Examiner
· Belize Natural Energy Ltd.– Albert Roches, Environmental Officer
· Belize SAICM Initiative– Safira Vasquez, Project Manager
· Caribbean Agricultural Research & Development Institute– Anil Sinha, CARDI Representative
· Department of the Environment– Martin Alegria, Chief Environmental Officer (Chairperson)
· Fabrigas Belize Ltd. - Alistair King/Glenford Baptist, Managing Director/Sales Manager
· Ministry of Economic Development– Emily Waight-Aldana, Economist
· Ministry of Health– Dr. Jose Marenco,
· Pesticides Control Board– Miriam Serrut, Registrar
· Prosser Fertilizer and Agrotec Co. Ltd.– Herbert Masson, Sales and Product Department Manager
· United Nations Development Programme - Diane Wade-Moore, Environmental Programme Analyst
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Workshops
· Inception Workshop– Belize Biltmore Plaza, Belize City - September 2009
· Meeting of the Multi-stakeholders and Interagency Coordinating Mechanism– George Price Centre, Belmopan City - March 2010
· Chemicals Management Priority Setting Workshop - Radisson Fort George Hotel & Marina, Belize City - June 2010
· Chemicals Management Validation Workshop - Radisson Fort George Hotel & Marina, Belize City - November 2010
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Project Documents
· National Situation Report
· Economic Analysis Framework
· Economic/Cost-Benefit Analysis Report
· Policy Options Analysis Report
· Belize Chemicals Management Priority Issues Concept Papers
· Chemicals Management Mainstreaming/ Action Plan
· DRAFT National Profile on the Management of Chemicals and Waste
· DRAFT National Profile on the Management of Chemicals and Waste APPENDIX
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Other Related Documents
· UNEP, Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management: SAICM Texts and Resolutions of the International Conference on Chemicals Management
· UNDP Technical Guide for Integrating the Sound Management of Chemicals in MDG-Based Policies and Plans
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