The government has drafted a bill that will centralise the registration and administration of both imported and locally manufactured industrial chemicals.

Drafted jointly by the Ministry of Trade & Industry and the Enviroment Forest & Climate Change Commission, the regulation stems from a proclamation that was legislated last year and prepared by the Commission.

The industrial development of the country has necessitated the utilisation of more imported and locally produced chemicals, said Samuel Halala, director general for the Chemical & Construction Input Development Institute, which operates under the Ministry of Trade & Industry.

"The chemicals have to be well managed as they may cause irreparable damage to the environment and humans," said Samuel.

All of the importers, exporters, distributors or users of such chemical products are required to report the chemical information in types, quantities, expiry dates, damaging chemicals in hand to the Ministry of Trade & Industry.

Fourteen companies domestically produce industrial chemicals, while 465 companies are involved in importing, exporting, wholesaling and retailing of chemicals used for agricultural purposes and 1,199 companies for industrial purposes. Out of these, only four are exporters of agricultural chemicals and seven export chemicals for industrial purposes.

Data of imported, manufactured, repackaged, sold, distributed and used industrial chemicals from these companies will be stored in a centralised database system, to be established at the Ministry.

Presently, the production, importation, exportation, transportation, storage and use of industrial chemicals have not been appropriately regulated, according to Ayele Hegena (PhD), director general for Policy Law, Standard Research & Development at the commission.