Regulations to monitor hazardous chemicals

Sri Lanka has moved into regulation of hazardous chemicals and monitoring industries that use them.

“I am glad to announce today that my Ministry has commenced the process of designing a Chemical Emergency First Responders’ Plan. What is important about this pioneering plan is the global compliance standard we will achieve once it is completed,” said Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen said.

Minister Bathiudeen addressed the Chemical Awareness Session for importers and exporters of 52 private and state sector organisations last week.

The Chemical Awareness Session is a Public Private Partnership effort by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce in collaboration with the Dangerous Drugs Control Authority and the State Trading Corporation and is centred around the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) which Sri Lanka joined since 1993.

The relevant national legislation is the Chemical Weapons Convention Act No. 58 of 2007. Among the 52 participating institutions are the private sector such as Siddhalepa Exports, Nestle Lanka, MAS Research and Innovation, Unilever Sri Lanka, Cargills Agrifood, A.Baur & Co, Dipped Products, Link Natural Products, Ansell Lanka, Hemas Manufacturing, and Revlon Lanka.

Among the state sector institutions are the State Pharmaceutical Corporation, Universities of Kelaniya and Ruhuna, Tea Research Institute, and NARA.

In 2009, Sri Lanka imported 219,820 metric tonnes of various chemicals to the country of which 491,768 tonnes were re-shipped (this number exclude oil and LP Gas imports which are also classified as ‘chemicals’).

Among the imported chemicals were the extremely toxic and hazardous chemicals imported to be used as base chemicals in Sri Lankan industries.