SAICM Project
Overview
The Environmental Protection Department, Ministry of Environment, Water Resources and Drainage is undertaking to update the island’s National Profile of Chemicals Management. Updating of the National Profile is intended to be a preparatory step towards implementation of the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM).
What is SAICM?
Benefits of the National Profile
What is SAICM?
The Strategic Approach to International Chemical Management (SAICM) is a policy framework for international action on chemicals hazards. It supports achievement of the goal to ensure that by 2020 chemicals are produced and used in ways that minimize significant adverse impacts on the environment and human health.
Benefits of the National Profile
The preparation of a National Profile is meant to contribute to a better understanding of which problems or potential problems related to chemicals exist in a country and what mechanisms are available to address these problems.
The National Profile will also help to, among other things:
- identify important gaps or weaknesses in the existing systems as a first step in defining where further efforts may be required and
- indicate where there may be overlaps in controls or other inefficiencies, which may prevent efficient use of limited resources.
Why is the involvement of the public necessary?
To be effective, it is recognized that the issue of chemical management requires multi-sector and multi-stakeholder participation. To this end, participation is being sought from members of the government, civil society and the public in general in updating the National Profile. Such participation would ensure that:
- the information in the profile is accurate;
- no relevant and pertinent information has been omitted or understated; and
- a wide cross section of the society is aware and understands the environment for the management of chemicals in Barbados.
How can one participate?
Persons who wish to be involved in the process of strengthening the management of chemicals can provide comments on the updated National Profile of chemicals management by:
- downloading a copy of the updated National Profile and comment worksheet;
- completing the comment worksheet after reviewing the updated National Profile; and
- emailing the completed comment worksheet to saicmproject@epd.gov.bb by January 16th, 2009.