--- TEMAS ACTUALES GLOSSARY OF TERMS AND ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED IN CONSUMER AND EHS LAW AND POLICY IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN. ---

Temas Glossary

TEMAS ACTUALES GLOSSARY OF TERMS AND ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED IN CONSUMER AND EHS LAW AND POLICY IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN

NOTE: If you have a suggestion for a term to add this glossary, please contact us.

A-B C D E F-G H I J-M N-O P Q-S T-U V-W X-Z

advance disposal fee: per-item charge on product sales intended to cover or defray the future waste management costs of the product.

Agenda 21: The list of programs adopted by the Rio Summit.

agrotoxics: physical, chemical and biological agents intended to alter the composition of flora or fauna, with the goal of saving them from the harmful action of living beings considered noxious. These are generally used in agricultural production and storage, but also in forest preserves, and even in urban ecosystems such as gardens and parks. The products include pesticides, herbicides, rodenticides, insecticides, defoliants, desiccants, growth stimulators and inhibitors.

Air Quality Guidelines: air quality norms recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) based on the findings of a scientific and technical panel. The AQGs are periodically updated.

allergen labeling: label listing of food and beverage ingredients that can cause allergies or intolerances in consumers.

Amazon Cooperation Treaty (ACT): Agreement signed in 1978 by eight nations (Bolivia, Brail, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela) to promote scientific cooperation and development vis-a-vis the Amazon River basin. A permanent secretariat was created in Brasilia (ATCO) in 1995, and it was agreed to step up cooperation in areas such as biodiversity and protection of water resources. More recently, ACTO agreed to cooperate on reducing mercury pollution.

Andean Community (CAN): Formerly known as the Andean Common Market (ANCOM) or Andean Pact, this Lima-based group started as a spin-off of the Latin American Integration Association (LAIA) aimed at subregional integration, common rule on foreign investment, and increasing the bargaining power of the five member nations. In recent years CAN has adopted common rules on biodiversity, cosmetics and pesticides and is developing a common agenda on environmental and health issues. Member nations include Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.

aquifer: stratum of permeable rock, sand, or gravel that can store and supply groundwater to wells and springs.

Association of Caribbean States (ACS): 25-nation entity created in 1994 to promote cooperation and integration between CARICOM, SICA, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Mexico and Venezuela. ACS' primary areas of work are trade, sustainable tourism, transport, and natural disasters. The ACS secretariat is based in Port of Spain, Trinidad.

Basel Convention: international treaty on international movements of wastes, especially hazardous wastes, signed at Basel, Switzerland in 1989.

bioaccumulation: intracellular accumulation of contaminants (such as mercury) by living organisms.

biochemical oxygen demand (BOD): a measurement of the amount of organic matter in wastewater that acts as nutrients to microorganisms.

biodegradable: capable of decomposing rapidly by microorganisms under natural conditions (whether aerobic or anaerobic).

biodiesel: a domestic, renewable fuel for diesel engines derived from natural oils like soybean oil. Biodiesel can be used in any concentration with petroleum-based diesel fuel in existing diesel engines with little or no modification. Biodiesel differs from raw vegetable oil in that it has had the glycerin chemically removed from the oil.

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' Recycling & Solid Waste Policy
in Latin America and the Caribbean '

by Keith E. Ripley