IFCS
Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety
29 August 2002
Vol.2 No. 5
Information Circular
CHEMICAL SAFETY AWARENESS RAISING IN IFCS REGIONS
Over the past 12 months, IFCS representatives have continued their efforts to increase global
awareness on chemical safety issues. Summary reports of several of their accomplishments are
included in this edition. We thank contributors for sending us this information. Readers are invited to
provide to the IFCS Secretariat brief reports on chemical safety events in their countries for
publication in a future Information Circular.
IFCS SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
Japan recently announced the appointment of Mr Tsutomu Matsuda, Director, Office of Chemical
Safety, Pharmaceutical and Food Safety Bureau, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare to serve as
the new Asia and Pacific Region Vice President.
IFCS REGIONAL MEETINGS
With Forum IV on the horizon (November 2003), preparations in the IFCS regions have begun in
earnest.
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Countries in the Asia/Pacific Region will meet in Tokyo, Japan on 7 - 10 October 2002;
The report of the African Regional Meeting held in Dakar, Senegal 3 - 5 July 2002 will soon be
available on the IFCS Web Site;
A meeting of countries in the Central and Eastern European Region took place in Budapest 23 –
24 May 2002;
A side meeting has been called for representatives of the WEOG Region attending the OECD
meeting during the first week of November 2002 in Paris.
For more information, please visit the regional section of the IFCS web site
(http://www.who.int/ifcs/regional/regions.html) or contact your Forum Standing Committee Vice
President (http://www.who.int/ifcs/ifcs-officers.html)
LATVIA
New Report on the Latvian Environment
The Report ‘Environmental Indicators in Latvia 2000’, using the five-phase environmental indicator
model accepted by the European Environment Agency, has just been published. The full report
(downloadable, in pdf format) and a summary web version can be found on the internet at
http://www.vdc.lv/soe/2001_eng/.
Contributed by Arnis Ludborzs, Latvian Environment Agency
Secretariat: c/o World Health Organization, 20 Avenue Appia, CH-1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland
Tel: +41 (22) 791 3873/4333/3650; Fax: +41 (22) 791 4875; Email: ifcs@who.ch; Website: www.ifcs.ch
MADAGASCAR
Chemical Safety Days 4 - 6 October 2001
Last October, as a first step in its information and awareness campaign, the intersectoral National
Chemicals Management Committee organized 3 ‘Chemical Safety Days’ at the National Library in
Antananarivo. Activities were directed at those responsible for chemicals management in the public
and private sectors, bringing together participants representing health, industry, agriculture and
consumers affairs.
A series of debates and thematic exhibits gave participants the opportunity to discuss real problems
and explore practical solutions. The event contributed significantly to the process underway to
improve chemicals management in Madagascar.
Contact: Mme Faramalala Raveloharifera, Secretary General, National Chemicals Management Committee,
Madagascar
SAMOA
26 March 2002- Samoa’s First National Chemicals Awareness Day
Thanks to the participation of schools, government departments, non-governmental organizations and
many other stakeholders, Samoa’s first National Chemicals Awareness Day was a resounding
success.
A National Task Team (NTT) comprised of representatives from government and non-government
bodies and established under the leadership of the Government Department of Lands, Survey and
Environment, coordinated all activities to celebrate this special day, including:
 a competition for School Seniors to develop a Plan of Action to remediate sites contaminated by
industrial and agricultural chemicals and by-products of chloride combustion;
 banners hung on the town hall clock and the Ministry of Women’s Affairs Hall in the capital city;
 multi-media news coverage including two radio talkback shows;
 exhibits and seminars, the launch of two new projects and the presentation of student project
prizes.
There is no doubt that this will be an annual event in Samoa.
Summary of article provided by S.A.M. Iakopo and Director of Agriculture, Forests, Fisheries and
Meteorology (This position is the IFCS Focal Point for Samoa).
ZIMBABWE
In April, 2002, the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare sponsored an exhibit at the annual
Zimbabwe International Trade Fair to alert the public on how to safely manage chemicals and
respond to emergencies related to hazardous substances. Posters, pamphlets, stickers, T- shirts and
caps with chemical safety messages were available for the 300,000 Trade Fair attendees. A theatre
group performed skits on chemicals issues and entertained the crowd with a range of traditional
dances and music. Attendees who completed a questionnaire available at the exhibit showed a good
level of understanding on how to deal with chemical products.
Summary of article provided by A.G. Mangwiro, Chief Hazardous Substances Controller (This position is the
IFCS National Focal Point for Zimbabwe).