30 September 1998

CHEMICAL LEGISLATION FROM 25 COUNTRIES MADE TRANSPARENT

UN/ECE launches comprehensive database on CD-ROM

The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN/ECE) today launches a database on chemical legislation from 25 countries¹ on CD-ROM. The database covers 15 sectors of the chemical industry, including asbestos, fertilizers, materials in contact with foodstuffs, transport of dangerous chemicals, and labelling. Over 600 text summaries are given, with complete reference to the original acts. The database is searchable by country, keyword, act reference and date. Acts are chained as well (so amendments to an act can be found with the act itself). Summaries and titles are generally provided in the original language, as well as in English.

The database, which also includes European Community directives, is intended to provide useful information and guidelines for countries worldwide that still have little or no chemical legislation. It will also give manufacturing companies, trading companies, legislators and lawyers instant access to information that is normally difficult to obtain. It should also appeal to institutes studying industrial development, trade and investment possibilities. The research was undertaken with assistance from the European Commission.

A major non-tariff barrier to trade in chemical products is the lack of harmonized legislation in the chemical industry in various countries. With many countries having very little or no chemical legislation, numerous problems arise in trade as well as in the domestic arena. Examples of chemical legislation already in force in the major industrialized countries can be models for those countries needing to create effective legislation, preferably in harmony with existing legislation in other countries. Such legislation is necessary for improved working conditions, transportation regulations, labelling of products, environmental parameters and other factors in the worldwide chemical industry.

Priced at US$ 250, the CD-ROM may be ordered through the normal United Nations publications sales agencies or direct from the United Nations sales offices in New York or Geneva². Please quote ISBN number 92-1-100776-3 or sales number GV.E.98.0.17.

Further information can be obtained from:

Howard Hornfeld

UN/ECE Trade Division

Enterprise Development Programme

Palais des Nations, 429-3

CH - 1211 Geneva 10

Switzerland

Tel: +41 22 917 32 54

Fax: +41 22 917 01 78

E-mail: chem@unece.org

Website: www.unece.org/indust/chem/htm

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¹ Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, Uzbekistan.

² Sales and Marketing Section or Sales and Marketing Section

Room DC2-853 Room C-113

2 United Nations Plaza Palais des Nations

New York, N.Y. USA CH - 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland

Fax: +1 212 963 3489 Fax: +41 22 917 00 27

E-mail: Publications@un.org E-mail: unpubli@unog.ch