加拿大、墨西哥與美國3國元首日前同意，為確保工業化學物質的安全製造與使用，將藉由發展區域夥伴關係，進行化學物質潛在風險的評估與管理。
已於21日在魁北克蒙特貝羅公開宣示的這項合作夥伴關係，美國總統布希、加拿大總理哈柏與墨西哥總統卡得隆在北美安全與繁榮夥伴協定的元首高峰會中，共同討論所作出這項結論。
這項協定設下2020年所需達到的目標，例如建立與更新北美3國化學物質的庫存紀錄，並且調整北美國家的化學物質管理，使其與各項國際協定的要求相符等。
3國元首表示，2012年前美國須完成高產量化合物的風險陳述，以及所應採取的相應行動，這些化合物共有9000種以上，且每年量產超過2萬5000磅。2012年的目標還包括確保這些化學物質在製造與使用的過程中，減少其對人體健康與環境的影響。
此項協定除了將根據加拿大化學物質管理計畫內容中的化學分類來進行重新審視、評估與管理，同時採用美環保署高產量化合物挑戰計畫的內容基礎。
The leaders of Canada, Mexico and the United States have agreed to move towards ensuring the safe manufacture and use of industrial chemicals by developing a regional partnership for assessing and managing potential risks.
This partnership, announced today in Montebello, is the result of discussions between U.S. President George W. Bush, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Mexican President Felipe Calderon at the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America Leaders' Summit.
The agreement establishes goals to be met by 2020, such as creating and updating chemical inventories in all three countries, and coordinating the management of chemicals in North America as required under a variety of other international agreements.
By 2012, the United States will complete risk characterizations and take action, as needed, on more than 9,000 chemicals produced in quantities above 25,000 pounds per year, known as High Production Volume chemicals. The 2012 goal is to ensure that these chemicals are produced and used in ways that minimize risks to health and the environment, the three leaders said.
This agreement will build on Canada's Chemical Management Program to categorize chemicals for review, assessment, and management and also on the U.S. EPA's HPV Challenge Program.
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