International workshop on strengthening chemical safety and security in Ukraine supported by OSCE Project Co-ordinator and OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre

Strengthening chemical safety and security in Ukraine, and how to establish and operate a national reference centre for the identification of chemicals were in focus at an international workshop organized by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine on 11 December 2017 in close co-operation with the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre and the Research Centre for Preventive Toxicology, Food and Chemical Safety of Ukraine’s Health Ministry.

The event has gathered representatives of Ukrainian governmental agencies, industry, civil society, research and scientific institutions, the Ukrainian Science and Technology Centre, the International Centre for Chemical Safety and Security, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, Interpol, the World Customs Organization, the German Federal Agency for Civil Protection and Emergency Assistance, the United States and the European Union.

There were presentations of OSCE projects which have been recently deployed in Ukraine regarding the identification of hazardous chemicals, as well as in harmonizing and improving the national regulatory systems for chemical safety and security. The next project for implementation aims to improve control of the transboundary movement of controlled and toxic chemicals. 

“We hope that this event will contribute to optimization of efforts in the field of chemical safety and security, raise awareness of the activities of various countries and organizations in Ukraine in this area, and open up opportunities for new partnerships in the field of chemical safety and security," said the Senior Project Officer of the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine, Jeffrey Erlich.

During the workshop, representatives of research institutions and specialized laboratories from seven countries also exchanged experiences and best practices in identifying and assessing the risks of the spread of hazardous substances. Representatives of stakeholder governmental agencies and organizations discussed the needs and principles of inter-agency co-operation in this area.

Director of the Research Centre for Preventive Toxicology, Food and Chemical Safety at Ukraine’s Health Ministry Mykola Prodanchuk said: "With the support of the OSCE and the Government of Ukraine, we are ready to use the Centre's capabilities to create a unique chemical substance identification laboratory. The preconditions for it and a certain scientific and technical basis already exist. The international ties put in place today will serve as a catalyst for further steps that, in the long run, will allow for our entry into the network of laboratories of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons."

The OSCE projects on chemical safety and security in Ukraine are supported by the European Union and the United States of America.