Conclusion of the main panel
Olga started with an input about why it is important to know, what chemicals are in product and howwe can get disclosure. The knowledge about products, their components and used chemicals are a basic for regulations of various products. Only if it is known, that hazardous chemicals are used decision makers can lead to striker policies to regulate the use and exposure. So the knowledge about Chemicals in products is a key issue to achieve a sound management of chemicals, and as this it related to the SDG, in particular SDG 12, but also 3 and 14. Also a toxic free circular economy can not be achieved without of disclosure. Without the knowledge on chemicals and products, chemicals are released to the environment and people through out use, recycling and or dumping. Currently there are more voluntary initiatives for safer products and information about products, than binding ones. And this initiatives mostly just goal on the consumers. But all stakeholder on the entire supply chain must be involved and informed. The provided information needs to be accessable, transparent, reliable and relevant. But as the most initiatives are voluntary they also lack a globally harmonized standard. The Solution could be the Global Minimums Trancparency Standard. That kind of globally harmonized standard could help to provided the information with the needed requirements. And also help to eliminate double standards, facilate safe recycling, access to information as a basis for decision making on all levels and also for countries to enforce laws.
Siddika focused on a regional example of Nepal, local studies on toxics in plastic toys and how ESDO moved forwarded. So, ESDEO tested various toys in several store in Dhaka, Nepal. They searched for different toxic substances and components in the toys. The results have shown, that around 97% of all tested toys include toxic substances in a level, which is significant above the allowed level in the US or the EU. Even from companies which are based in this regions like Barbie or Lego. Mostly heavy metals are the most urgent problem. ESDO also find out, tat nearly 90% of the parents have no idea about toxic chemicals in toys and just 20% recognized health problem which are related to the used toys. Also some labels exist, not everybody is reading them, they do not guarantee the full disclosure of all needed information and they are not harmonized. Nor can responsibility lie solely with consumers. Manufactors should follow consumer protection and governments should enforce strict laws. To control the change and improvement of the current status quo, there is a need for an independent testing of products to support a certification.
As the third Elise presented initiatives and success in the European Union (EU) on Chemicals in Products and the Right to Know. Since there are different tools and strategies to work on that issue, the EU has a very high standard on to protection of consumer. The European Green Deal includes to basic strategies which address Chemicals in Products: Circular Economy Action Plan and Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability. Also REACH is one of the strongest regulations to enforce transparency and protection of environment and people. Some key developments, which are already resulting are the SCIP database, which give access on list of substances of high concern. An ambition on a product passport is developed. And the AskREACH project with the Scan4Chem App. But all these ambitions can be improved and there is still an urgent need for tracebillity and disclosure of information and enhanced responsibility of producers. Especially companies must support the transparency; and decision maker must make transparency happen. To reach by obligation to communicate information about chemicals in products, harmonized system to collect and provide information like GMTS, and information throughout the life cycle of a product.
Yuyun, working among other things on the Minamata Convention and spoke about lessons learned from the Minamata Convention for SAICM and the Issue of Concern chemicals in products. The key elements of the Minamata Convention regulating mercury are the reduction of global supply and trade, a phase out of mercury added products and out of the production processes, managing mercury waste and reducing the use of mercury at all places. So the Minamata Convention focus on one hazardous substance in products and in case of this it is an ideal example. There are several differences between the Minamata Convention and SAICM, such as the Minamata Convention is legally binding, bans exports, forbid new products with the substance of concern, enforces national actions plans, harmonize global standards. But the two differences, which make the conventions most successful is one the one hand the focus on at least just one substance and not all chemicals, and the funding system. The funding for a SAICM-Beyond 2020 must be improved as well, as one part of the take action, like the Minamata Convention does. Other learned lessons are to identify the source of pollution, polluters should be responsible, raise public awareness, monitor the environment and biomarkers
Discussion:
In the following discussion all speakers see it necessary to establish a legally binding disclosure, which underlies a global harmonized standard. There are several initiatives which focus on giving access to information about products and included chemicals. But we are still in the beginning. The whole market is not covered yet. To improve the initiatives a clear signal for transparency is needed and to make the industry responsible. A key task for us as civil society is the awareness raising around that topic, to raise the pressure. Consumer apps like the Scan4Chem App and the ToxFox help to raise the awareness by providing information. But more people need to be informed and for that we have to focus on schools and several levels of education. This was also mention in a session from Semia Gharbi on Monday: “Education is a driving force to achieve toxic free SDGs”. All groups of education like students and teachers must improved.