Management of Toxic Chemicals: An Overview

Chemicals, whether synthetic or occurring in nature, are important components of life. Their utilization as ingredient to various industrial processes is universal. Chemicals are primarily used to improve our quality of life - pharmaceuticals to protect public health; agricultural chemicals to control pests and diseases; and equipment, appliances and other consumer products and services designed to bring comfort in every home and workplace.

Despite their beneficial effects, however, some commonly used chemicals can pose unreasonable risks to humans and the environment. While other chemicals like drugs, cosmetics and pesticides are covered by regulatory procedures, industrial chemicals were not properly regulated until the passage of Republic Act (RA) No. 6969, otherwise known as the “Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Control Act of 1990”.

1. What is RA No. 6969?
RA No. 6969 provides the legal framework for the country’s program to control and manage the importation, manufacture, processing, distribution, use, transport, treatment and disposal of toxic substances and hazardous and nuclear wastes.

The Philippine Congress passed the law in 1990, with the ultimate goal of ensuring full protection of the people’s health and the environment from unreasonable risks posed by industrial chemicals and chemical substances.

2. What is DAO No. 29, series of 1992?
DENR Administrative Order No. 29, series of 1992 is the Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA No. 6969. It outlines the mechanics, including the requirements, in the management of toxic substances and hazardous wastes, as well as the penalties that may be imposed in violation of the law.

3. What is PICCS?
PICCS refers to Philippine Inventory of Chemicals and Chemical Substances. As the name implies, it is a list of existing industrial chemicals and chemical substances used, sold, distributed, imported, processed, manufactured, stored, exported, treated or transported in the Philippines. The first PICCS developed by the DENR-EMB in compliance with RA No. 6969 was published in 2000. It contains approximately 24,000 chemicals and chemical substances nominated in 1993 by chemical importers, distributors and users.

4. What is PCL?
PCL refers to Philippine Priority Chemicals List. It is a short list of chemicals that have been determined to potentially pose unreasonable risks to public health, workplace and environment. At present, there are 28 toxic chemicals enumerated in the PCL. Their inclusion in the PCL is based on the selection criteria used by industrialized countries, such as persistence, toxicity and bioaccumulation.

In addition, the DENR-EMB has also established national criteria that took into consideration factors unique to Philippine situation, as well as the country’s compliance to international commitments under the Chemical Protocols and Conventions. These include chemical’s use and management, production quantity, percentage of release, occupational exposure, disposal methods and technical and economic feasibility of its regulation.

5. What is CCO?
CCO means Chemical Control Order. It is a policy instrument used by the DENR to prohibit, limit or regulate the use, manufacture, import, export, transport, processing, storage, possession and wholesale of priority chemicals that are determined to be regulated, phased-out, or banned because of the serious risks they pose to public health and the environment.

Of the 28 toxic chemicals listed in the PCL, five have already been covered by CCOs in the form of DENR administrative orders (DAO). These CCOs are for: mercury (DAO 97-38), cyanide (DAO 97-39), asbestos (DAO 2000-02), ozone-depleting substances (DAO 2000-18), and polychlorinated biphenyls (DAO 2004-01).

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