First National Chemicals Management Profile Developed in Seychelles

In November 2012, the Environment Department of the Ministry of Environment and Energy of Seychelles completed a two-year project to improve chemicals management in the country. This project was implemented with the technical assistance of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and the financial support of the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) Quick Start Programme Trust Fund.

Under the project, Seychelles developed its first National Profile – a comprehensive assessment of the national infrastructure, relating to the legal, institutional, administrative, and technical aspects of chemicals and waste management – and undertook a thorough assessment of existing capacities. Based on this, two priority areas were identified, namely:

The implementation of the Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS); and
The designation of a site/facility for pre-treatment of hazardous wastes

Comprehensive action plans were developed to address both of these priorities. Implementation of the action plans is currently under way – GHS pictograms have already been affixed at petrol stations in the country and other areas such as the new landfill and leachate pre-treatment facility are being considered.

The project also helped strengthen the national governance structure through the establishment of the Inter-Ministerial Coordination Mechanism for Chemicals Management in Seychelles (IMCM) and the design of a website and a chemicals database. Moreover, a short video on the importance of chemicals management was produced and aired on national television.

Upon the completion of the project, Mr. Flavien Joubert, National Coordinator of the project, remarked on UNITAR’s “valuable expertise for chemicals-related issues” and its “efficient and prompt” organisation. Mr. Lemmy Payet, National Consultant for the SAICM Project in Seychelles, commented, “The last 2 years or so under the guidance of UNITAR has been very fruitful for us and has been an eye-opener in the area of chemicals management, where we obtained vital tools to enable us to identify our gaps and weakness (as well as strength) in the endeavour to properly manage chemicals.”

Mr. Payet also noted, “On behalf of the Seychelles government, I would like to once again thank UNITAR for their excellent guidance in allowing Seychelles to actually draft its first chemicals profile, capacity assessment report and chemicals management action plans. Thank you for all the study tools, the guide booklets and the capacity-building workshops.”