The Asia-Pacific region remains the largest consumer of chrysotile asbestos in the world, with resulting adverse exposure and health implications indicating greater focus on this chemical is needed within the region. In addition, inadequate chemicals management systems are compounded by weak legislation and regulatory infrastructures.
The Secretariat has been implementing this project in collaboration with WHO, ILO and other partners to support the sound management of Industrial Chemicals in the Asia and Pacific region, with a special emphasis on asbestos. This project aims at strengthening the ability of governments in the Asia-Pacific region to: safely manage asbestos through a series of activities that are designed to increase the awareness of the risks and associated issues ; address the legal aspects required for safe management at the national level; highlight the associated health and environment aspects ; and the necessary institutional infrastructures The project addresses the lifecycle management and related issues of asbestos in three pilot countries (China, Indonesia and the Philippines) and the implementation of the Rotterdam Convention and related Multi-lateral Environment Agreements (MEAs).
The following activities have so far been carried out:
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Date
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Activity
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Status
|
|
November
2009
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Formation of a multi-stakeholder Inter-Agency Project Implementation Working Group (IAWG) on Sound Management of Industrial Chemicals to coordinate the implementation of the activities for this project (agencies involved were Rotterdam Convention Secretariat, UNEP Chemicals, Basel Convention Secretariat, WHO – (IHE, IPCS, and IARC), ILO and UNITAR)
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Completed
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November
2009
October
2011
May
2011
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Cooperation Agreement for $200,000 USD was signed with Basel Convention Secretariat. Under this agreement, the Basel secretariat would make the necessary arrangements with the Basel Convention Coordinating Centre for Training and Technology Transfer for the Asia and Pacific region in Beijing, China and the Basel Convention Regional Centre for Training and Technology Transfer for South-East Asia in Jakarta, Indonesia for implementation of the Project activities. The following projects were implemented, respectively by the two centers;
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Completed
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September
2010
|
Initial
workshop:
Inter-Agency Awareness-raising Workshop on the Sound Management of Industrial Chemicals, with Special Emphasis on Asbestos, for the Asia-Pacific Region (China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia Philippines, Sri Lanka,
Thailand and Vietnam) Bangkok, Thailand, 31 August -2
September 2010
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Completed
|
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April
2012
|
Toolkit for the
Elimination of Asbestos-related diseases was developed
through the coordinated efforts of the
University of Occupational and Environmental Health (UOEH), Fukuoka,
Japan in conjunction with a Working Group that had experts from WHO, ILO,
International Occupational Hygiene Association (IOHA), UK Health and Safety
Executive, Korean Occupational Safety and Health Agency, and Ministry of
Public Health of Thailand
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Completed,
April 2013
Link to the Toolkit
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|
January
2011
|
Pilot
project deliverables with the Department of Health of the Philippines:
- Legislation/administrative Review process on asbestos management in the Philippines
- Philippines National Programme on the
Elimination of Asbestos-related Diseases (PNPEAD);
- National Asbestos Profile for the Philippines;
- Medical surveillance training on the early detection of symptoms resulting from asbestos exposure
|
In
May 2011, had a request to extend timeframe for project by 1 year, due to
more stringent processes that had been adopted by Government. Thus MOU was
extended to April 2013.
Received
an Inception Report in 2013.
Completed
2014.
|
|
29
September
to
1 October 2014
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In conjunction with the Basel Convention
Regional Centre in Indonesia (BCRC-SEA), convened Inter-Agency Workshop on the Sound Management of Industrial Chemicals,
with Special Emphasis on Asbestos, for the Asia-Pacific Region, in
collaboration with the 7th International Seminar of the Asian Asbestos
Initiative (AAI-7), 29 September to 1 October 2014 (China, India,
Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia,
Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam).
|
Completed
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This activity is still on-going.