To implement the directives of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CIAC), the members of the National Authority for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (ANIAC-Togo) have been in training since July 13, 2022. At the St-Georges de Tsévié hotel, the participants will be equipped, over three days, with the inspection mechanisms of industrial installations using chemical products.
The Convention on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (CIAC) has been ratified by Togo since April 1997. Thus, to meet the obligations of this international treaty, in particular those of the fight once morest the development, manufacture, use, the storage and transfer of chemical products, with a view to their responsible use for the benefit of the population, the government created, in November 2015, the National Authority for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (ANIAC-Togo).
In its role of prevention of chemical risks and incidents, ANIAC-Togo has opted for the awareness and training of industrial personnel and intends to inspect industrial installations using chemicals, with a view to reducing possible chemical and environmental risks. to ensure that no illicit action takes place there. To this end, the structure must strengthen the capacities of its members, in order to make them more effective in carrying out inspection missions. This explains the holding, since yesterday in Tsévié, of a training workshop on the principles and procedures relating to the inspection system. This three-day meeting will essentially allow participants to learn regarding the CWC and its provisions relating to inspections, the concept and respect for confidentiality during inspections, chemical safety and security in an industrial environment , in short, knowledge of the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) and the classification of chemicals under the CWC.
At the opening of the work, the president of ANIAC-Togo, Mr. Amah Hunlede, underlined the importance of this training, which aims to make an overall analysis of the fundamentals of the verification regime of the convention, including the first lever is inspection. He explained that several industries and companies in the country use chemicals, particularly for research operations in laboratories, manufacturing of pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, plastics, cement products. These industrial facilities, in their manufacturing processes, use machines, devices and heat sources that can create enormous chemical risks. To do this, audits must be conducted in order to identify weaknesses that might threaten the efforts made by manufacturers and make recommendations for action to be taken.
Jules LEMOU
