Reducing chemical risks in low-income countries: strategies for improved coverage of basic chemicals-management legislation

The document identifies a significant gap in the implementation of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS), noting that as of April 2017, 128 UN member countries had not yet implemented it. The failure to adopt these rules is primarily linked to low regulatory capacity and low GDP per capita, with striking deficiencies in Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia. To address this, the brief recommends strengthening institutional capacity, fostering regional collaboration, aligning GHS with overall national chemicals strategies, and linking implementation to the UN Agenda 2030 and occupational health and safety commitments.

• As of April 2017, a majority of UN member countries had not implemented the GHS in national legislation: 128 countries had not implemented it, 15 had partially implemented it, and 50 had fully implemented it.
• The lack of GHS implementation is most pronounced in South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.
• Low GDP per capita and low regulatory capacity are primary drivers of the implementation gap, as the GHS requires significant technical knowledge, financial resources, and staff time to align legislation.
• Other factors contributing to non-implementation include a low degree of trade dependence, low commitment to international cooperation, and low commitment to occupational health and safety.
• Successful GHS implementation is more likely when it is integrated into a comprehensive national chemicals strategy rather than treated as a stand-alone project.
• Regional collaboration and the desire to join regional trade organizations can drive implementation by pooling resources and reducing trade barriers; the Eurasian Economic Union is cited as a recent example of joint implementation.
• Capacity-building support has yielded positive results in Viet Nam and Zambia, with Zambia being one of only two African countries to have implemented the GHS.
• Linking GHS to the UN Agenda 2030, specifically target 12.4 regarding the environmentally sound management of chemicals and wastes, may increase political support and national budgetary allocation.

APA

Persson, L., & Karlsson-Vinkhuyzen, S. (2018). Reducing chemical risks in low-income countries: strategies for improved coverage of basic chemicals-management legislation. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/180307c-brandon-persson-chemicals-pb-1802g.pdf

Chicago

Persson, Linn, and Sylvia Karlsson-Vinkhuyzen. Reducing chemical risks in low-income countries: strategies for improved coverage of basic chemicals-management legislation. Stockholm Environment Institute, 2018. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/180307c-brandon-persson-chemicals-pb-1802g.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Persson |first1=Linn |last2=Karlsson-Vinkhuyzen |first2=Sylvia |title=Reducing chemical risks in low-income countries: strategies for improved coverage of basic chemicals-management legislation |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |date=2018 |url=https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/180307c-brandon-persson-chemicals-pb-1802g.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{persson2018reducing, author = {Persson, Linn and Karlsson-Vinkhuyzen, Sylvia}, title = {{Reducing chemical risks in low-income countries: strategies for improved coverage of basic chemicals-management legislation}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2018}, url = {https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/180307c-brandon-persson-chemicals-pb-1802g.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }