Ministries to raise awareness about chemical management
Ministries to raise awareness about chemical management
Ministry of Industry and Commerce will collaborate with relevant sectors to create awareness amongst users, business people and transporters regarding the safe maintenance, disposal, and treatment of chemicals.
This was the message from an official at the 11th Regional Chemicals Management Forum held recently in Vientiane.
Deputy Director General of the Industry and Handicrafts Department, Mr Somphong Soulivanh said authorities are concerned about chemical management issues as many of these products are new to industry and the nation. For this reason the government assigned the Ministry of Industry and Commerce to coordinate with other relevant sectors in drafting a Law on Chemicals.
A draft law was passed by the National Assembly VIII legislature in November 2016 and has been adopted by the National Assembly and the President.
�The law aims to manage the import, export and use of chemicals in Laos as their management was often not centralised,� he said.
According to the law, the import, export and registration of chemicals was the responsibility of the industry sector while other sectors also had the right to make annual plans for their management and use.
While many chemicals are deemed necessary for agriculture and socio-economic development authorities need to advise users to comply with regulations and appropriate techniques for use as many can be hazardous.
�Without chemicals, economic development will not move forward. In the meanwhile, we have to understand what the most dangerous chemicals are and which are less hazardous. When chemicals are needed we must ensure they are managed in accordance with regulations,� Mr Somphong said.
Therefore, all sectors especially the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Ministry of Health, and Ministry of Energy and Mines must increase must be more accountable in chemical management issues in line with their roles.
For example, Ministry of Industry and Commerce has the role of managing the use of chemicals in processing industries at factories.
The agriculture sector manages chemical use in plantations and livestock breeding, while the health and mining sectors oversee chemicals in their respective areas.
When accidents occurred such as chemical leaks and residues from agricultural production, mining and others, the relevant sectors should coordinate to deal with issues, he said.
For example, on banana plantations in northern provinces the Ministry of Industry and Commerce collaborates with the agriculture sector to deal with issues and disseminate information to farmers about the appropriate use of chemicals.
Mr Somphong said the sectors should continue circulating information to create increased awareness amongst businesspeople as well as frontline users and transporters on the correct maintenance, disposal, and treatment of chemicals.
