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

Inter-Organization Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals (IOMC): organization created in 1995 to promote cooperation and coordination among international organizations working on chemical issues, namely UNEP, ILO, FAO, WHO, OECD, the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR). UNDP and the World Bank participate as "observers." WHO provides secretariat services for the IOMC.

irritant: something that, through immediate, prolonged or repeated contact with the skin or mucous membrane, can cause inflammation.

Kyoto Protocol: protocol to the UNFCCC adopted in Kyoto, Japan in 1997. It requires countries listed in its Annex B (mostly OECD nations) to meet by 2008-12 differentiated reduction targets for their emissions of a "basket" of greenhouse gases relative to 1990 levels.

landfill: a waste disposal site for which measures have been taken in the planning, construction and operational phases in order to minimize pollution coming from the deposited wastes.

landfill gas: the gas produced by the decomposition of wastes within sanitary landfills. Landfill gas usually consists principally of methane and carbon dioxide.

Latin American Economic System (SELA): 26-nation Caracas-based organization created in 1975 as an alternative forum to the OAS, it excludes Canada and the US and includes Cuba. SELA's principal mandate is to promote the development of common positions on issues with economic dimensions in order to promote a common front in other fora. Although its vague mandate allows it to tackle social issues of any sort, SELA tends to stick to trade and economic issues, including linked topics such as intellectual property and technology transfer.

Latin American Energy Organization (OLADE): Quito-based organization of 26 Latin American and Caribbean nations dedicated to fostering policy cooperation in energy topics, including environmental aspects.

leachate: the polluted water that flows from landfills, usually picking up suspended and dissolved materials from the wastes as it passes through the landfill, including contaminants such as heavy metals.

life-cycle analysis (LCA): examination of the material and energy inputs and outputs at each stages of a product's life-cycle (primarily manufacture, use and disposal) to determine the product's total environmental impact.

Lima Convention: Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment and Coastal Area of the South-East Pacific adopted at Lima in 1981 and in force since 1986. Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama and Peru are its Contracting Parties (CPs). In 1983 the Convention's CPs agreed on supplementary protocols on (1) regional cooperation in combating pollution by hydrocarbons or other harmful substances in cases of emergencies; (2) pollution from land-based sources.

London Dumping Convention: 1972 agreement ratified by 86 nations which bans the ocean dumping of certain substances and requires the end of incineration at sea and of dumping industrial wastes at sea. The IMO provides the secretariat for this Convention.

MARPOL: 1973 International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships and its 1978 amending protocol. Overseen by IMO, MARPOL seeks to eliminate marine pollution from oil and other hazardous substances and to minimize their accidental discharge. MARPOL has six “technical annexes,” the first two of which (I: oil; II: bulk chemicals) are mandatory for all ratifying parties, the others are optional, with governments indicating which they accept. Annex III covers packed chemicals, IV ship sewage, V garbage, and VI noxious solid substances carried in bulk.

material safety data sheet (MSDS): a formatted information sheet prepared by a material manufacturer, importer or employer, describing potential hazards, physical properties and procedures for use use and handling of a material.

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

by Keith E. Ripley