ID :
60015
Mon, 05/11/2009 - 16:48
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/60015
The shortlink copeid
MALAYSIA MULLS LAW ON HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES
KUCHING (Malaysia), May 11 (Bernama) -- A legal framework will be formulated
to make it mandatory to notify the goverment on chemical substances available in
the Malaysian market which are potentially hazardous to human health and the
environment.
Natural Resources and Environment Minister Douglas Uggah Embas said
the proposed legislation was applicable to manufacturers and importers in the
country.
"We have not set the timeframe yet on when the proposed legislation will be
enforced because we are in the midst of gathering information and data," he told
reporters after opening a workshop on chemical safety and security here Monday.
Uggah said one of the objectives of the proposed legislation was to ensure
that Malaysia was better prepared to face any threat posed by chemical
substances that could affect the environment and human health.
Presently, importers and manufacturers were asked to notify the goverment on
a voluntary basis under the Environmentally Hazardous Substances (EHS)
Notification and Registration Scheme, he said.
Earlier in his speech, Uggah said the EHS Notification and Registration
Scheme would enable the Department of Environment (DOE) and other agencies to
asses information for better decision-making in chemical management.
After gathering information and data from the scheme, the DOE would
establish a Malaysian Chemical Register which would contain information such as
the identity of chemical substances, their uses and hazard classifications.
"The EHS Notification and Registration scheme was launched on July 15 last
year. The scheme is now implemented on a voluntary basis and when the proposed
legislation is in place, all manufacturers and and importers will be required to
make compulsory notification," he said.
He said that from Feb 1 to April 14 this year, a total of 67 companies
representing various sectors such as paint, oil fields, household/personal
products, electronics, coating, ink and printing,sewage and water treatment had
registered under the scheme.
He said a seminar to increase awareness of the scheme would be held
throughout the country targeting chemical companies as the main participants.
-- BERNAMA
to make it mandatory to notify the goverment on chemical substances available in
the Malaysian market which are potentially hazardous to human health and the
environment.
Natural Resources and Environment Minister Douglas Uggah Embas said
the proposed legislation was applicable to manufacturers and importers in the
country.
"We have not set the timeframe yet on when the proposed legislation will be
enforced because we are in the midst of gathering information and data," he told
reporters after opening a workshop on chemical safety and security here Monday.
Uggah said one of the objectives of the proposed legislation was to ensure
that Malaysia was better prepared to face any threat posed by chemical
substances that could affect the environment and human health.
Presently, importers and manufacturers were asked to notify the goverment on
a voluntary basis under the Environmentally Hazardous Substances (EHS)
Notification and Registration Scheme, he said.
Earlier in his speech, Uggah said the EHS Notification and Registration
Scheme would enable the Department of Environment (DOE) and other agencies to
asses information for better decision-making in chemical management.
After gathering information and data from the scheme, the DOE would
establish a Malaysian Chemical Register which would contain information such as
the identity of chemical substances, their uses and hazard classifications.
"The EHS Notification and Registration scheme was launched on July 15 last
year. The scheme is now implemented on a voluntary basis and when the proposed
legislation is in place, all manufacturers and and importers will be required to
make compulsory notification," he said.
He said that from Feb 1 to April 14 this year, a total of 67 companies
representing various sectors such as paint, oil fields, household/personal
products, electronics, coating, ink and printing,sewage and water treatment had
registered under the scheme.
He said a seminar to increase awareness of the scheme would be held
throughout the country targeting chemical companies as the main participants.
-- BERNAMA
