Adopting community right-to-know programmes on chemical risk based on international guidelines

Chemical reduction programmes must generate wide involvement to ensure constant evaluation and monitoring, leading to progress towards more efficient production techniques and the use of fewer or no toxic substances. Moreover, empowering citizens and communities with information enables them to monitor their neighbourhood polluters, and takes some of the regulatory burden off the resource-strapped authorities.

This strategy features in the framework of Agenda 21 as formulated at UNCED (Rio de Janeiro, 1992), now coordinated by the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development and implemented through national and local authorities.

Agenda 21 further recommends that industry should adopt on a voluntary basis, community right-to-know programmes based on international guidelines, including sharing of information on causes of accidental and potential releases and means of preventing them, and reporting on annual routine emissions of toxic chemicals to the environment in the absence of host country requirements.