12 July 2007 International Environment House 2, Geneva Switzerland

1. Substances, soil and biotechnology 2nd Meeting of the Partners of the WSSD Global Partnership for Capacity Building to Implement the GHSGeorg KarlaganisFederal Office for the EnvironmentSwitzerland 12 July 2007 International Environment House 2, Geneva Switzerland

2. Switzerland’s Support for GHS Capacity Building • Switzerland has been a core supporter of the GHS Partnership, through the UNITAR/ILO capacity building programme. • The GHS Partnership is a model partnership, supported and encouraged by Switzerland since its inception at WSSD.

3. Switzerland’s Support for GHS Capacity Building • Support has included national and regional activities, guidance materials, and supporting services (e.g. for the Partnership website and side-events). • Switzerland is appreciative of UNITAR’s activities in this area, and those of other partners.

4. Switzerland’s Support for GHS Capacity Building • Support of GHS capacity building is part of Switzerland’s cooperation with UNITAR on other chemicals management issues (e.g. SAICM, POPs, National Profiles, etc). • Switzerland moving ahead with national implementation as a contribution to GHS implementation worldwide.

5. Activities on GHS in Switzerland (1) • Switzerland is currently elaborating an Economic Impact Assessment on the Implementation of GHS • 3 Options are analyzed: • Option 1: No adaptation of the currentSwiss C&L Regulation to the GHS • Option 2: Harmonization (content and transition period) with the EU-GHS-System • Option 3: Full adaptation to the UN-GHS-System including EU “left-overs”

6. Activities on GHS in Switzerland (2) • Economic Impact Assessment:15 Enterprises of most affected Sectors of the Swiss Chemical Industry have been interviewed • basic chemicals, lubricants, dyes and pigments, textile chemicals, paints and colours, cosmetics, detergents and cleaning products, paper chemicals, adhesives and sealants, construction chemicals, biocides • different company size(30-2500 employees) • different position in the supply chain:manufacturers, formulators, trading, application of chemicals

7. Activities on GHS in Switzerland (3) • Main Outcome of the interviews of enterprises: • Enterprises unanimously prefer the implementation of the GHS with the same building blocks and transition periods for substances and mixtures as the EU (harmonisation with the EU) • Costs of Option 2 (harmonised implementa-tion of EU-GHS-System) are considered to be lower than the costs for Option 1 (no imple-mentation of GHS) or Option 3 (full imple-mentation of the UN-GHS-System)

8. Activities on GHS in Switzerland (4)

9. Transition from current C&L System to GHSin the EU Switzerland intends to harmonise the GHS-implementation with the EU-schedule 4,5 years 1.1.2009 1.6.2015 Now 1.12.2010 End of transition forSubstances End of Transition forPreparations / Mixtures Draft KOMGHS GHS-Regulation in force Substances labelledacc. GHS Preparations / Mixtureslabelled according GHS Information on classification according to current system in MSDS

10. Value of the GHS Partnership • A strength of the Partnership are the nationally-focused pilot projects resulting in concrete implementation activities - these projects should continue. • A regional focus is important given the relationship of GHS with trade – further efforts in this area must be encouraged.

11. Value of the GHS Partnership • There is strong value in the accountability of the Partnership, including through annual reporting of progress, funding, and activities, and the Partnership website. • There is need to continue to diversify sources of support for the Partnership – demand exceeds supply.

12. Possible Future Directions and Further Opportunities for GHS Capacity Building • Mainstreaming efforts as a result of SAICM may assist generating support in the longer-term, as countries may have chemicals issues formally on their list of overall development priorities. • The contribution of the Partnership to the challenges of chemicals management should be recognised. GHS capacity building can support the implementation of international agreements, SAICM, and achievement of the MDGs.

13. Possible Future Directions and Further Opportunities for GHS Capacity Building • The GHS Partnership should be promoted as a model partnership in other fora (e.g. CSD, SAICM, Global Compact, GEF). • Consideration should be given to inviting senior management from major chemical companies to discuss industry involvement as part of public-private partnership.

14. Possible Outcomes of 2nd Meeting of the GHS Partnership (1) • The meeting provides an opportunity to share experiences and new ideas to strengthen GHS capacity building and the Global Partnership. • Action plans could be developed that include specific measures aimed at strengthening the GHS Partnership from the perspectives of all groups (government, business and NGOs/labour).

15. Possible Outcomes of 2nd Meeting of the GHS Partnership – Concluding Remarks • Partnership Activities for Implementation of GHS (in contents and time) between Developing Countries, Countries in Transition and OECD Member Countries are important • Differences in Implementing GHS between Nations should be as minimal as possible in order to reach the main goal of the GHS: Global Harmonisation of C&L