Asia
1. Outline of the ProjectCountry:

Project title:

Malaysia

The Project on Risk Management of Hazardous ChemicalSubstances

Field:

Cooperation scheme:

Environment

Project-type Technical Cooperation

Division in charge:

Total cost:

Second Technical Cooperation Division, Mining andIndustrial Development Cooperation Department

569 million Yen

Period of Cooperation

Partner Country's Implementing Organization:

1 April 1998 - 31 March
2002

Environmental and Energy Technology Center, SIRIM
Berhad(SIRIM)

Supporting Organization in Japan:
Chemical Management Policy Division, Manufacturing Industries
Bureau, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry

Related Cooperation:
Project-type Technical Cooperation; "Hazardous Chemical Substance Evaluation Analysis/ Industrial Waste Disposal TechnicalCooperation Project (Phase 1)"

1-1 Background of the Project
Along with the rapid growth of the economy, the quantity of chemicals consumed and the variety of chemical substances
comprising product ingredients have also rapidly increased in Malaysia. This also applies for hazardous chemical substances.
However, the preparation of standards and measures for regulation and control lag behind. Additionally, the country needed topromptly implement countermeasures for the disposal of industrial waste.
In response, JICA had implemented and completed the Project-type Technical Cooperation "Hazardous Chemical Substance
Evaluation Analysis/Industrial Waste Disposal Technical Cooperation Project" from 1993 - 1997. However, this Project was
aimed at developing basic technology and knowledge through technical transfer at the laboratory level. Therefore, Malaysia
requested the cooperation in order to manage and control industrial pollution, applying the outputs gained from the former
Project in actual industrial activity.
SIRIM Berhad (SIRIM) is a public corporation wholly owned by the Government of Malaysia. SIRIM plays the central role in thecountry as a research institution of industrial technology.

1-2 Project Overview
To provide the industrial sector with evaluation and management services for the safe use of chemical substances, the Projecttransferred the necessary techniques to SIRIM, such as techniques for the assessment and disposal of waste water.
(1) Overall Goal
SIRIM's capacity in risk assessment of hazardous chemicals will be upgraded.
(2) Project Purpose
SIRIM will be able to provide evaluation and management services in chemical safety for the industrial sector.

(3) Outputs
1) The management system of the Project will be established.
2) The equipment will be procured, operated and maintained properly.
3) Technical expertise in chemical safety evaluation will be developed.
4) Technical expertise in the treatment of waste waters containing color and nitrogen will be developed.
5) The expertise developed will be disseminated across industries.
6) Information on evaluation and treatment of chemical substances will be disseminated.
(4) Input
Japanese side:
Long-term Experts

7

Equipment

131 million yen

Short-term Experts

27

Local Cost

20 million yen

Trainees received

13

Malaysian side:Counterparts

17Equipment

275,000RM (10 million yen)

Local Cost

1,698,000 RM (50 million Yen)

2. Evaluation TeamMembers of Evaluation
TeamLeader: Kojiro MATSUMOTO, Deputy Director, Second Technical Cooperation Division, Miningand Industrial Development Cooperation Department, JICA
Technical Cooperation Planning:Takeru NUMADATE, Assistant Chief, Chemical Management
Policy Division, Manufacturing Industries Bureau, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
Technical Transfer Planning:Chisumi ETO, Section Chief, Chemical Assessment Center,Chemicals Evaluation and Research Institute, Japan
Evaluation Management:Kenichi KAWAMURA, Second Technical Cooperation Division, Miningand Industrial Development Cooperation Department
Evaluation Analysis:Masayuki TAKASAWA, RECS International Inc.

Period of Evaluation

7 October 2001 - 20October 2001

Type of Evaluation:
Terminal Evaluation

3. Results of Evaluation
3-1 Summary of Evaluation Results(1) Relevance
The Government of Malaysia has continuously regarded proper environmental management as important in the 8th Malaysia
Plan (2001-2005). Though the Project was planned with the enactment of an industrial chemical substance law in mind which
implements overall regulations and management regarding hazardous chemical substances, it was not enacted at the time ofTerminal Evaluation. However, the Government of Malaysia has strengthened the management of hazardous chemicalsubstances on the grounds of the current law, such as making the risk assessment of the labor environment an obligation under
the Occupational Safety and Health Act. If a unified legal framework for the hazardous chemical substances is prepared in thefuture, the needs of risk management will increase in the industrial sector especially in small and medium sized enterprises. For
these reasons, the implementation of the Project is relevant to the policy of Malaysia.

(2) EffectivenessThe counterparts have acquired the principle, concept, and techniques of risk assessment of hazardous chemical substances.
They have developed various manuals and assessment guides for the field of waste water treatment. At the same time, they
have actually implemented risk assessment of hazardous chemical substances, and are expected to complete a research
report. Judging from the achievement of the outputs, the Project Purpose; "SIRIM will be able to provide evaluation andmanagement service", will be attained by the end of the cooperation.
(4) Efficiency
Due to the delay in the transportation of equipment and the construction of laboratories, the Project activities were delayed tosome extent as well. There were requests mainly from the Malaysian side to extend the dispatch period of experts because only
a few Short-term Experts were dispatched. Especially for the fields of ecology toxicity testing and waste water treatment, forwhich Long-term Experts were not dispatched, it is considered that there should have been more careful discussion on thetiming and the period of the expert dispatch.
(4) ImpactSIRIM has widened the coverage of consultancy services in the field of waste water disposal and chemical safety evaluation
during the Project period. Moreover, one of the counterparts in the field of risk assessment acquired the assessor license of theMalaysia Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH). This made it possible for the assessor to enter companies
and implement the risk assessment on the impact of chemical substances on health. Furthermore, because the transferredtechniques could be practically used in fields other than risk management, SIRIM has become able to satisfy to the various
needs of the industry and strengthened the business service system. As mentioned above, it is evaluated that the Project has
been steadily moving forward to achieve the overall goal, "upgrading capacity in risk assessment".
The 8th Malaysia Project recognizes SIRIM as a necessary institution for the pursuit of industrial environmental management.
Especially, the small and medium sized enterprises that have not attained sufficient technology for environmental management,
have evaluated SIRIM as an important institution. It is confirmed that the Project contributed to elevating the status of SIRIM.
(5) Sustainability
SIRIM has established a management system that responds to the expectations of industry to provide risk assessment as wellas consultation services. In order to widen the coverage of consulting services, a good relationship with various institutions has
been established. In terms of organization, three counterparts are playing an important role as mangers, and SIRIM has taken
steps that will enable them to continue in their activities. In terms of institution, the Project was planned with the industrial
chemical substance law prepared by the Ministry of Science, Technology and the Environment in mind. However, enactment of
the law was still pending at the time of terminal evaluation due to problems concerning adjustments in the current law.
Nevertheless, the Malaysian side has not changed its recognition of the importance of the enactment of the law. In the meantime, they will promote the management of chemical substances on the grounds of the current law. Although overall risk
assessment is not being conducted yet, it is evaluated that the importance of the practical use of the techniques still remains
high.
In terms of techniques, most of the counterparts attained a sufficient level of expertise. In the field of ecology toxicity testing andwaste disposal, the counterparts have attained a level of technology to maintain and further expand their activities.
In terms of the finances, SIRIM is widening the scope of research field activities, and it can be said that the SIRUM will not facedifficulty in increasing income through research contracts.

3-2 Factors that promoted realizing effects(1) Factors that concern planning
N/A.
(2) Factors concerning the Implementation Process
The Counterparts had participated in the "Hazardous Chemical Substance Evaluation Analysis/ Industrial Waste Disposal
Technical Cooperation Project", the previous Project, and the equipment of the previous Project was also used, contributing tothe efficient implementation of the project.

3-3 Factors that impeded the effects(1) Factors that concern planning
N/A(2) Factors that concern the implementation process
The delay in laboratory construction delayed Project progress.

3-4 Conclusion
It is concluded that providing evaluation and management services for chemical substance safety, which was the Project
Purpose, has been achieved. Upgrading of capacity in risk assessment of hazardous chemicals, which was the Overall Goal issteadily progressing. There are no problems in terms of institutional, technical, and financial sustainability, and the Project effectis expected to be maintained.

3-5 Recommendations(1) There are no problems in the contents of technical transfer in the field of mutagenicity testing. However, the counterparts
have not been able to use the techniques with confidence, and it is necessary to dispatch Short-term Experts in the same fieldso that the counterparts will be able to acquire sufficient evaluation techniques by the end of the Project period.
(2) The Project should take some measures to provide more time for preparing a study report on at least one hazardous
chemical substance by the end of the Project period.

3-6 Lessons Learned(1) One of the most important tasks of the Project was to provide instruction in the methodology of risk assessment. However,this task was not included or explained at the beginning of the Project. The plan of the Project must be carefully designed at thepreliminary stage.
(2) Laws and regulations strongly affect the Project plan and operation especially for a project concerning environmental
policies. If the future details of the enactment of an environmental law are unclear, it is important to carefully consider therelevance of the Project, and whether or not the Project will meet the needs of the Government's environmental policy.
(3) Careful attention should be paid in the dispatch of Short-term Experts. Especially in fields where there is no plan to dispatch
Long-term Experts, it is important to fully examine the details of Inputs, such as the number, specialty and timing of the expert
dispatch, in order to achieve the outputs.

3-7 Follow-up Situation
N/A.