9. Technical infrastructure

This chapter provides an overview of the infrastructure used to manage chemicals. It describes the laboratory facilities that make possible the implementation of directives and programmes dealing with the management of chemicals in Hungary, specifically, the laboratories affiliated with the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, the Ministry of Culture and Education, Hungarian universities, the NPHMOS, and NGOs. These laboratories are capable of performing chemical analyses that – among other things – help control the quality of chemicals. They are capable of analysing the remnants of chemicals, identifying unknown substances, monitoring harmful effects, and conducting toxicological studies. Due to the sophistication of Hungary's chemical industry and the diversity of laboratory activity going on in the country, we were not able to list all laboratories, and thus the fact whether a laboratory is listed or not, does not indicate its quality, or that of the work carried out there.

At the moment, the accreditation of laboratories and the fulfilment of quality control requirements are under way at a heightened pace in Hungary. It can be seen that the government guarantee of chemical safety is based primarily on the laboratories of the NPHMOS, and that the well-equipped laboratories of non-governmental organisations and institutions participate in solving problems related to chemical safety only sporadically.

Use of computers is commonplace at both governmental and non-governmental organisations (including chemical companies, regardless of size). A sizeable proportion of computers are high-performance (fast), but most are not used to serve the needs of chemical safety, are not connected to databases on chemicals in Hungary or abroad, and are not used to link governing, decision-making and operative bodies. In the case of companies, the usual practice is that computers are used to store the data sheets (records) of chemicals produced and marketed by the company.

Training and education programmes are implemented by specialised schools, universities and colleges in Hungary, that are highly active, and perform high-quality work both in the field of health and environmental protection, and the sound management of chemicals.

Also of high quality is the training of experts in the fields of plant protection, environmental protection, occupational safety and health protection.

To summarise: the cornerstone of chemical safety in Hungary is the organisation of NPHMOS laboratories, and their specialisation in performing special chemical safety tasks. The intellectual resources and equipment available at academic institutions can be used to tackle unexpected problems. The laboratory infrastructure of the chemical and pharmaceutical industries make possible work of a high standard to be carried out with respect to both occupational safety, environmental protection and product quality control.

Availability of computers is generally adequate, but they are not utilised to their potential (with respect to information exchange and widespread access to databases) – this should be remedied.

Training of experts takes place in specialised schools, colleges and universities; its quality is above average. High quality post-graduate training in chemical safety is available for engineers, biologists, doctors, and other graduates. A priority task is the inclusion of chemical safety in the curriculum of compulsory primary, and general secondary schools.

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