On 27 November 2009, the Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN) organized an information meeting on Designing a Model of Pollutants Release and Transfer Register (PRTR) in Georgia. The goals of the initiative are to:
· Design a Model of Pollutants Release and Transfer Register
· Awareness raising campaign on PRTR and the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) for different target groups (government, industry and civil society representatives etc.)
The design of a model pollutant release and transfer register has been carried out by CENN with the technical support of UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) in close cooperation with the Ministry of Environment Protection and Natural Resources of Georgia. A National Coordinating Team comprised of the representatives from various agencies and organizations has been supervising the initiative.
The meeting was attended by the representatives of universities, chemical laboratories, enterprises, NGOs, Georgian Trade Union, Tbilisi City Hall, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources and regional departments.
The initiative's implementing team acquainted the attendees with project goals and objectives, planned activities and briefing document already prepared within the framework of the project. The existing system of pollutant release and transfer inventory in Georgia was also discussed.
Meeting participants stressed that PRTR cannot be perfect at the initial stage of its elaboration. For several reasons, the list of chemical substances and activities covered by PRTR might be limited. Information on pollutants released and transferred into the environment from diffuse sources might be also be incomplete.
Therefore, a national PRTR will be prepared with the prospect of its further expansion. At the present stage, the Georgian PRTR will be integrated into the database o fexisting sources of information, which, in its turn, is of importance for avoiding duplicative reporting.
During the discussions, it was also emphasized, that besides the list and the thresholds of pollutants which trigger reporting obligations, PRTR should also cover their qualities and level of hazardousness to humans and the environment. The role and the function of the coordinating team was also discussed. The attendees considered that the coordinating team should carry out lobbying and advocating apart from supervising the project.
This initiative is being implemented within the framework of the project "Strengthening Capacities for Designing a National Pollutant Release and Transfer Register and Supporting Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) Implementation in Georgia" through the financial assistance of SAICM Quick Start Program Trust Fund.
For additional information please contact:
Ms. Nino Shavgulidze
Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN)
Tel.: +995 32 75 19 03 / 04
Fax: +995 32 75 19 05
Mobile: +995 77 74 22 19
[Source: CENN]
