Thursday 29 / May / 2025
Muscat: The Environment Authority is organising a two-day international workshop on safe management of hazardous chemicals.
The workshop, which takes place in Muscat, seeks to achieve sound management of chemicals as a basic pillar of sustainable development, in line with the strategic approach and objectives of Oman Vision 2040.
The opening of the workshop was held under the auspices of Sayyid Saud Hilal Al Busaidi, Governor of Muscat.
Held in cooperation with the UN Environment Programme and the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the workshop constitutes a step forward towards the implementation of the provisions of the Minamata Convention on Mercury. It offers a practical guide on how to find suitable alternatives for mercury and to cut down the risks associated with the use of this substance, which is classified as hazardous to health and the environment.
The workshop included the launch of the "National Strategy for Integrated Management of Hazardous Chemicals in the Sultanate of Oman". It highlights global practices and the outcome of studies and research in the field.
The "National Strategy for Integrated Management of Hazardous Chemicals” constitutes a fundamental pillar of sustainable development. It plays a significant role in achieving the desired balance between the three dimensions of sustainable development: The economic dimension, social dimension and environmental dimension.
The Strategy emerges as a national roadmap on managing chemicals in a safe and orderly manner, including production, manufacturing, handling, transportation, storage, processing and disposal hazardous materials.
The workshop reviews 18 working papers on Oman’s experience in the sound management of chemicals and mercury, the challenges involved in the management mercury, the systems and technologies used in the process of treatments and the relationship between plastics and persistent organic pollutants.
The working papers also define the role of the Directorate General of Customs (which monitors chemicals at border crossings), standard procedures for transporting and storing hazardous materials and mercury, as well as the risks of using mercury in the field of farming.
The workshop looks into a report on preliminary assessment of the propagation of mercury and outlines the national strategy on the management chemicals in the Sultanate of Oman.
Oman does not produce mercury or its compounds, but the substance enters the country through the import of some industrial products and devices.
