Jordan has updated its chemical regulations in an attempt to meet its environmental law and fall in line with requirements from Europe.
Chemical Watch reported how the Middle Eastern country has improved its legislation regarding the managing, transporting and handling of hazardous chemicals, changing definitions and terms that were written in the original 2005 document. It has also made an official list of the substances that are forbidden in the nation.
Mahmoud Zboon, a chemical engineer for the environment ministry, confirmed to the publication that the changes have been made to enable Jordan to meet its own environmental law. The legislation, which was passed two years ago, bans and restricts specific hazardous substances.
Therefore, the update includes a paragraph that allows the environment ministry to get rid of any dangerous chemicals that do not have the required permits and environmental approvals.
It also wants to meet European Union (EU) grant indicators for waste management. Just over a year ago in March 2018, the EU initiated a drive to match Jordan’s standards on the testing for banned or restricted chemicals in electrical equipment or toys. This was to help the country prepare for a trade agreement, ensuring their standards regarding hazardous substances aligned with each other.
Within the EU, hazardous substances need to be classified and labelled according to the Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals. This enables goods to be handled safely, and has been set up to “ensure good worldwide understanding and to facilitate the free flow of goods”.
While the public consultation on the alterations to the chemical regulations came to a close in September, Jordan’s bureau of legislation still needs to give its approval before the law can be enforced.
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