The Regional Environmental Center for the Caucasus (RECC), within the framework of the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) program, together with the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia (MEPA), is launching a new project “Enhancing national capacities, reporting and synergies between Basel, Rotterdam, Stockholm and Minamata Conventions and SAICM for the sound management of chemicals and waste in Georgia”. Relevant stakeholders gathered for an inception workshop on 16-17 March 2023 to discuss the project and detailed work plan.
The workshop brought together representatives from the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia (MEPA), the National Center for Disease Control and Public Health, Department of Environmental Supervision, Department of Customs Revenue Service (MOF), Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development as well as large industrial companies, particularly “Energo-Pro Georgia” and “Georgia State Electrosystem”.
The project aims to strengthen the institutional capacities of the Government of Georgia, taking into account the national development strategies, plans and priorities to increase sustainable public institutional capacity for the sound management of chemicals and waste throughout their life cycle. Institutional strengthening under the Special Programme will facilitate and enable the implementation of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions, the Minamata Convention and the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM).
“Inter-ministerial effective coordination is crucial to accelerate the adoption of the national framework, leading to the successful implementation of the Basel, Rotterdam, Stockholm and Minamata Conventions and SAICM. The ministry expects that this project will play a key role in bringing best international practices to foster the sound management of chemicals and achieve Sustainable Development Goals in Georgia” stated Mr Alverd Chankseliani, the Head of Waste and Chemicals Management Department of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia.
Ms Irma Gurguliani, the focal point of SAICM in Georgia, presented the overview of the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) and the country’s efforts towards the ratification of the Minamata Convention.
“Georgia has taken some important steps, adopting multilateral agreements on prior informed consent (PIC), persistent organic pollutants (POPs), and mercury, as well as continuing prior work on the transboundary movement of hazardous waste. The Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) is an overarching policy process that will help the Government of Georgia’s ambition for sound management of chemicals, achieving SDG 12, SDG 3, SDG 6, SDG 11 and SDG 14. For this reason, this small-scale project has great importance for our country”, highlighted Ms Gurguliani.
Within the frame of the project, the group discussed the details of hiring national and international experts to undertake a comprehensive gap analysis on coordination for sound management of chemicals and provide a package of legal amendments on chemicals and waste management with consideration of SDGs and gender mainstreaming. Awareness-raising and capacity-building activities including training of trainers on SAICM and implementation aspects of BRS and Minamata Conventions are also planned for the upcoming year.
“Enhancing national capacities, reporting and synergies between Basel, Rotterdam, Stockholm and Minamata Conventions and SAICM for the sound management of chemicals and waste in Georgia” project is funded by the Special Programme Trust Fund and implemented by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) with support from the Regional Environmental Centre for the Caucasus (RECC).
