NEA Calls For Legal Framework Against Chemical Importation

Mr. Momodou Sarr, Executive Director of National Environment Agency, has expressed concern over what he described as the large scale importation and donation of chemicals to the country for use in various sectors, calling for stringent legal and Institutional framework to be instituted in order to arrest the trend. “Although The Gambia does not manufacture chemicals, our nation imports or is donated very large quantities annually for use in the agricultural, health sectors and even at the level of the households. The need for a stringent legal and institutional framework is therefore evident,” Mr. Sarr said at the opening of a one-day national review workshop of the road map and strategic implementation of the globally harmonised system of classification and labelling held at the Corinthia Atlantic Hotel yesterday.

According to the NEA executive Director, the chemicals, through the different steps from their production to their handling, transport and use, are a real danger to human health and the environment.

“To face this danger,” Mr. Sarr went on, “and given the reality of the extensive global trade in chemicals, and also the need to develop national programmes to ensure their safe use, transport and disposal, the international community recognized that a globally harmonised approach to classification and labelling would provide the solid foundation for such national programmes.”

He added that the hazardous chemicals and pesticides control and management act and its two regulations provide the legal framework for the management of chemicals and pesticides in The Gambia.

Speaking earlier, Mr. Momodou Conteh, Project Coordinator, described the system as an international tool that could be effectively used as a basis in developing national chemical safely programmes.

“The sound management of chemicals,” he said, “is not only important for the environment but also for industries concerned with fisheries, crop production, livestock, water resources and human health.”

According to Mr. Conteh, recognising the vulnerability of our population as a result of low level of awareness, The Gambia government has over the years taken courageous steps towards the development of an institutional framework for the sound management of chemicals.

“It is therefore imperative that we harness concerted efforts to implement the new Globally Harmonized system for the classification and labelling of chemicals as soon as possible with a view to having the system fully operational by 2008,” he stated.

Meanwhile the new system, which aims to ensure that information on physical hazards and toxicity from chemicals are made available in a manner that would enhance the protection of human health and the environment, addresses classification of chemicals by types of hazard and proposes harmonized hazard communication elements, including labels and safety data sheets.