Key terms, definitions and principles
It is important to define what chemical substances the legislation will cover (e.g. will it manage pesticides?) as well as which activities. The legislation should address chemicals’ hazards and/or risks to human health and the environment, and links to other chemicals-related legislation should be clarified.
The definitions of key terms used in legislation should be clear, accurate and up-to-date, but also broad enough to capture all substances and uses under the scope. As a starting point, several international agreements provide definitions for the most common terms and expressions used in chemicals management.
Also, there are several legal principles to consider incorporating into the legislation: prevention, precaution, polluter-pays, right-to-know, knowledge-based management, and transparency.
Relevant tools
- UNEP: Guidance on the Development of Legal and Institutional Infrastructures for Sound Management of Chemicals and Measures for Recovering Costs of National Administration (LIRA-Guidance) (2015)
- UNEP : National Authority for Chemicals Control: Structure and Funding (2019)
- UNECE: Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals GHS Rev. 8 (2019)
- Case study of Canada’s Chemicals Management Plan
- Case study of the Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme (AICIS)