Toward the Implementation of the Recommendations of Chapter 19
of Agenda 21 on the Environmentally Sound Management of Chemicals
December 1997
Chemicals are present in all segments of human life, in all parts
of their life cycle-from production, treatment processing, distribution,
storing, transport and use, to chemical waste management and disposal.
This book mainly concerns industrial chemicals, agricultural pesticides,
biocides, and consumer chemical products. These chemicals make life
possible or at least easier but, nevertheless, their impact can be
harmful because the more that large quantities of chemicals are in
use, their potential misuse can represent a risk to human health and
the environment. Slovenia is especially sensitive to certain kinds
of environmental damage because it is geographically and hydrogeologically
very diverse. Furthermore, a great part of the territory is karstic
with interconnected underground drinking-water resources, which means
that the pollution at one part of the country could endanger many
other parts.
It has been recognized that an appropriate level of chemical safety
can only be reached by a joint action of all governmental and nongovernmental
stakeholders involved. Thus, measures for appropriate management of
chemical risks and for ensuring sustainable development must be taken
with a concerted stepwise approach at all levels, including individual.
In line with international recommendations and according to our own
need, the Intersectoral Committee on the Management of Dangerous Chemicals
(ICMDC) was established by the Government of the Republic of Slovenia
in the summer of 1996. To facilitate information exchange and to avoid
duplication of work, which can cause a loss of very limited financial
and manpower resources, ICMDC began to work as a central coordinating,
advisory, and facilitating body with the function of a catalyst. The
work accomplished in these months has shown that in Slovenia in this
field many things still have to be put in order, while some of them
we only have to give a final touch to. To begin with rebuilding and
upgrading of the system, first an assessment of the situation (a national
profile) had to be prepared. Like a living organism, the chemical
safety field is constantly developing in every country; therefore,
the document should be revised and updated periodically and additional
pieces added to the mosaic. In the countries in transition to the
market economy, such as Slovenia, the situation changes quickly. The
present version of the national profile was drafted before IFCS 11
in Ottawa in February 1997.
The National Profile served as a basis for the identification of
potential priorities which were then set at the National Priority
Setting Workshop in November 1997. According to the Resolution of
the Government of the Republic of Slovenia, within the framework of
a two-year pilot project, the Intersectoral Committee is to prepare
a national program for integrated chemicals management. Although Slovenia
has rich experience with the preparation of a national program for
environment protection, the approach in this field will be different-more
detailed and integrated-and instead of unisectoral, a multisectoral
approach will be taken.
This publication is presented by the Government of the Republic of
Slovenia, Intersectorial Committee on the Management of Dangerous
Chemicals, and prepared with the assistance of the United Nations
Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), edited by D. Lovincic
MS, coordinated by D. Bostjancic. Editorial board: D. Lovincic MS,
D. Bostjancic, J. Leban, and J. Vidovic.
1000 Ljubljana, Stefanova 5, Slovenia; Tel.: (386) 61-178-605 1;
Fax: (386) 61-123-1781.
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