Magda Tóth Nagy
Public Participation Program
June 2004

• PRTR: an instrument for environmental and health information
• PRTR Protocol paving the way
• Challenges and needs in CEE countries
• Building capacities for CEE and EECCA countries www.rec.org

PRTR: an instrument for environmental and health information
The major benefits for the Public:
• Public access to emissions release data
• Information about toxic chemicals
• Information about health effects www.rec.org

PRTR: an instrument for environmental and health information
• For the Government:
• Pollution reduction and risk reduction
• Encouraging improvements in environmental performance
• Monitoring and compliance
• Setting priorities and evaluating progress
For the Business:
• Pollution reduction and prevention
• Introducing environmentally sound technologies
• Better chemical management at the plant level/stimulates efficient or reduced use of chemicals www.rec.org

PRTR: an instrument for environmental and health information
• Interest in CEE for developing PRTRs in mid-
90s influenced by the Rio process (Czech Republic,
Slovakia, Hungary)
• In the process of EU accession –– focus on EU requirements for candidate countries
• New momentum by UNECE
Aarhus Convention process: leading to development of
PRTR Protocol www.rec.org

• PRTR Protocol signed by 36 countries and the EU
• Decision of EU to develop a regulation to implement
PRTR Protocol and upgrade
EPER to E-PRTR
• Build PRTR through EPER in new EU Member States and accession countries
• Wealth of experience in
OECD process and outside
Europe
• Synergies of international processes on information systems should be used to meet European environmental and health goals www.rec.org

Challenges and needs in
CEE countries
• Development of legislation on chemical safety and community right to know
• Implementation of PRTR
Protocol used as tool to develop/change legislation
• Accommodate national priorities and needs
• Institutional framework for integration of data collection and information flow
• Overcome lack of coordination of data collection and gaps in information flow
• Share responsibilities among national agencies
• Streamline reporting obligations and methodologies,
• Designate a single responsible agency www.rec.org

Challenges and needs in CEE countries
Operational issues
• Consistency of methodologies for setting up thresholds, common identifiers and adapting to national priorities
• Resolve issue of confidentiality of statistical information collection: designating environmental authorities as data custodians
• Verification: unified methodologies and techniques of estimations, calculations and measurements such as sector-based unified estimation methods and factors
• Enforcement measures and powers of authorities
• Incentives for industry selfreporting and cooperation www.rec.org

Challenges and needs in CEE countries
• Operational issues
• Public accessibility: PRTR databases in electronic form
• Searchable PRTR system according to parameters and accessible via internet free of charge.
• Data bases located in different places linked, public access points ensured.
• Stakeholder involvement in development and operation of systems: open and transparent process, information for and dialogue with public and users
• Involvement of health experts and NGOs to help interpreting data www.rec.org

Building capacities for CEE and
EECCA countries
• The REC Role
• Provide forum for discussion for stakeholders during drafting of PRTR Protocol
• Capacity building workshops for network of governmental and NGO experts to learn from international experience
• Pilot projects in accession and new Members states to assess legal, institutional, practical aspects and dialogue with stakeholders
• Support national authorities to set up an operational register, develop web site, provide guidance and information materials to users (NGOs and businesses) and training for officials in Czech Rep.
• Future projects in selected SEE and EECCA countries to support development of PRTRs through workshops, training, guidance materials and pilot projects www.rec.org

Magda Tóth Nagy
Public Participation Program
REC tmagdi@rec.org
www.rec.org
www.rec.org