Iraq

Strengthening the Institutional Structure for the Management of Chemicals and Wastes

Breaking Ground:

Iraq's Journey to Sustainable Chemicals Management

The Challenge

Iraq’s success in tackling chemicals and waste management problems has had its share of setbacks. While a database for monitoring chemicals existed when it applied in 2016 for funding from the Special Programme, the database was not exhaustive and only accounted for the import of chemicals. Limited expertise in chemical waste management was also a prevailing issue. Although both governmental and non-governmental actors in Iraq had pushed for hazardous chemical-related policies, nothing had gone beyond the proposal stage.

The Project

The government of Iraq, with support from the Special Programme and UNEP, sought to improve the country’s ability to manage chemicals and waste. The project’s approach centered on conducting training programs for the relevant institutions, developing a comprehensive national chemicals registry, and structural reorganization at the Department of Chemicals Management. It also focused on developing and updating existing legislature to better protect the people of Iraq. 

The Impact

The project started the process of developing an improved and comprehensive National Chemical Registry. Currently, the registry is operating at limited capacity, with work ongoing to have it fully operational. The project also developed a national chemical profile and supported the classification of chemicals in line with international standards. As a result, two chemical management tools were developed: the list of updated banned and restricted pesticides; and the hazardous chemicals waste classification controls for the oil industry, industrial, and service sectors. Key personnel were also trained on the development and use of the national register. 

Multiple workshops were conducted to train different stakeholder institutions. These included a training workshop on the elimination of obsolete pesticides stockpiles for stakeholders across the health, environment, and agricultural sectors. Other training workshops focused on project development and fund mobilization, waste classification, and labeling, among others.

A department of chemicals management already existed in Iraq. With support from the project, the department’s structure was improved to strengthen coordination across the different branches and with other agencies. The structural change also gave the department of chemicals management the opportunity to establish a separate unit for each multilateral environmental agreement under the existing five branches.

Coordination was also strengthened at the ministerial and agency levels. Four committees were set up to meet regularly and tackle various aspects of the sound management of chemicals and waste. These committees provide data on chemical agreements, make recommendations on critical issues, and contribute to national strategies and laws relating to environmental security.

The project supported the development of two strategies addressing the security situation in the high-risk chemicals sector and integrated pollution management. The National Chemicals Security Strategy has been in effect since late 2018, while the Strategy for Combatting Pollution in Iraq is in its approval stage.

Iraq achieved a major milestone by ratifying the Minamata Convention on Mercury with support from the UNEP project. Mercury and other chemicals are now overseen under Iraq’s robust National Chemical Profile management system. The Ministry of Environment also became a separate entity from the Ministry of Health to better focus on environment-related issues.

Significant progress has been made in developing and implementing secondary laws and regulations to enhance chemicals management in Iraq. In 2021, legal orders were passed to establish a committee aimed at unifying laws related to chemicals management and implementing national policies, as well as to approve a proposal for achieving chemical security. Other proposals were drafted under the project, including ones to regulate chemical storage and environmental licensing, and to phase out asbestos in Iraq.

Independent Assessment of the Closed Project under the Special Programme Report (December 2022): Iraq

Project Story

2018 - Iraq raises the bar to strengthen its capacity to manage chemicals and waste. 

2018 - Cleaning up after ISIS: how Iraq’s new chemicals team is trying to undo years of conflict pollution