Philippines | Recommendation Paper for Risk-Based Prioritization of Chemicals into Priority Chemical List

The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has taken a significant step toward enhancing chemical safety in the Philippines by unveiling a Recommendation Paper for Guidelines on Risk-Based Prioritization for Qualification into Priority Chemical List (PCL). This landmark development aims to revolutionize the assessment and management of chemicals, ensuring the safety of both the environment and the public.

The EMB has entrusted the task of refining this critical process to NSI Training and Consultancy Services, Inc. As part of their responsibility, NSI was engaged to provide services and technical assistance for the project titled Risk-Based Prioritization and Risk Assessment on the Safety of Existing Chemicals in the Philippines. This project's primary objective was to establish a comprehensive set of criteria and a toolkit for risk-based prioritization and assessment of chemicals.

In accordance with the scope of work outlined in the inception report, the NSI team has proposed a set of criteria that will govern the prioritization of chemicals listed in the Philippine Inventory of Chemicals and Chemical Substances (PICCS). This framework includes a pre-prioritization phase and hazard screening process that utilizes MS Excel spreadsheets. This innovative approach empowers the EMB to input essential information about the chemicals in PICCS, thus facilitating the batching of chemicals for assessment. During the assessment phase, the EMB can input candidate chemical data, select hazard endpoints, and apply ranking criteria to establish a refined list of chemicals eligible for the Priority Chemical List.

Labeled as the Recommendation Paper for the National Guidelines on Risk-based Prioritization for Qualification into Priority Chemical List (PCL), this document is poised to shape the future of chemical safety management in the Philippines. The paper is now open for public comment, underscoring the EMB's commitment to transparency and inclusivity.

MORE INFO ON chemical.emb.gov.ph