Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2006, published 96th ILC session (2007)

Chemicals Convention, 1990 (No. 170) - Italy (Ratification: 2002)

1. The Committee notes the information contained in the Government’s reports and the attached legislation ensuring the application of parts of the Convention. With reference to the provisions in Articles 7 and 8 of the Convention, the Committee notes the ongoing European legislative initiative concerning Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals (REACH) which should enter into force in the near future and that this legislation will include new legislation concerning the classification and labelling requirements. The Committee also notes the European Union plans to implement the Globally Harmonized System for Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) at the end of 2006, which would replace the current classification and labelling requirements under force in the European communities. The Committee requests the Government to provide additional information on the impact of these initiatives on national legislation implementing the present Convention, and to provide further specific information regarding the following provisions of the Convention.

2. Article 3. Information on bodies and procedures for tripartite consultations. The Committee notes the Government’s reference to the practice of the competent administrations to carry out consultations with the social partners, by gathering opinions, observations, clarifications on draft legislation, drawn up by the same administrations. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the provisions dealing with any specific bodies and procedures for regular consultation of the most representative organizations of employers and workers concerned on the measures to be taken to give effect to this Convention.

3. Article 4. Information on the process of reviewing national policy. The Committee notes the Government’s reference to the process of formulation and implementation of the coherent national policy on safety in the use of chemicals at work. The Government is requested to provide additional information on the measures taken to review this policy. 

4. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on measures to give effect to the following provisions:

–         Article 6, paragraph 4. Measures for a progressive extension of classification systems and their application;

–         Article 8, paragraph 3. Similarity of the name used to identify the chemical on the chemical safety data sheet and on the label;

–         Article 9, paragraphs 2 and 3. Suppliers’ responsibilities regarding labelling;

–         Article 10, paragraphs 3 and 4. Employers’ responsibilities regarding labelling;

–         Article 13, paragraph 1(a) and (c). Specific provisions regulating operational control; and

–         Article 14. Specific provisions regarding the disposal of waste.

5. Part V of the report form. Practical application of the Convention. The Committee also requests the Government to provide information on the manner in which the Convention is applied in practice and to provide information such as extracts from inspection reports and statistics on numbers of workers covered by the measures giving effect to the Convention, disaggregated by gender, if available.