Preparing a National Profile
UNITED NATIONS INSTITUTE FOR TRAINING AND RESEARCH
UNITAR
Preparing a National Profile
To Assess the National Infrastructure
For Management of Chemicals
A Guidance Document
Chemicals encompass substances of man-made and natural origin and are increasingly used in the agricultural, industrial and consumer sectors of all societies. While indispensable in many economic activities, there is increasing evidence to suggest that chemicals and chemical products can contribute to health and environmental problems at various stages during their life cycle from production/import through disposal, as well as resulting from unintended occurrence. Such problems include
· pollution generated during production processes, improper handling, storage and transport accidents, occupational accidents and diseases, and
· environmental contamination due to unsound disposal methods.
While in the developing world much evidence of such problems is often associated with the use, and misuse, of pesticides in the agricultural sector, increasingly, industrial and consumer chemicals are reported to cause severe health and environmental problems as countries develop from agricultural to industrial societies. Furthermore in many countries, chemicals of natural origin may also give rise to adverse health impacts in a variety of segments of society.
It is now widely recognized that chemicals need to be managed properly in order to achieve a sustainable level of agricultural and industrial development and a high level of environmental and human health protection. One important step in strengthening national systems for the management of chemicals is a comprehensive assessment, called a National Profile, of
· the national infrastructure and capacity, relating to the legal, institutional, administrative and technical aspects of chemicals management, along with
· the nature and extent of chemicals availability and use throughout their life cycle in the country.