In response to the Arequipa Declaration, Canada and Peru, in partnership with Chile and Argentina, co-sponsored the Pan-American workshop on the Safe Use of Minerals and Metals to develop a common understanding of the principles for the safe production and use for minerals and metals and to start the process of developing a common approach and coordinating policies. A four-country steering committee was established and the Workshop was held in Lima, Peru, July 1-3, 1998. Some 100 participants, representing governments, industry and non-governmental organizations, from fourteen countries and international organizations participated at the event.

The Workshop was divided into three sessions over a two-and-one-half day period and included presentations, by invited experts, on a range of topics related to the safe production and safe use of minerals and metals. The first session entitled Minerals, Metals, Markets and Social Development was designed to highlight some of the global challenges facing the sustainable development of minerals and metals, including issues related to global markets and trade, environmental expectations and social needs. The second session, entitled The Safe Use Principle and its Elements focussed on the key elements of the Safe Use principle and covered topics that included the life-cycle of minerals and metals, the importance of proper hazard identification, risk assessment and risk management practices. The third session entitled Safe Use in Practice: Case Studies focussed on presentations by industry on their company=s efforts to implement best practices related to the safe production and processing of minerals and metals, product stewardship, recycling initiatives, sound environmental management practices and community relations.

The morning of the third day was reserved for a discussion of the topics and issues raised during the two days of presentations, to explore the definition of safe use, as well as the roles of governments, industry, workers, researchers, scientists and non-governmental organizations, including communities who all need to be involved in the implementation of the safe production and use of minerals and metals.

Main findings:

The production, use, re-use, and recycling of minerals and metals plays a fundamental role in the economic development of societies, constituting a significant activity for the creation of national wealth and employment. The minerals and metals sector can provide the economic base for countries to meet their social aspirations, including poverty alleviation, infrastructure development, education and training. This development needs to be achieved in a sustainable and responsible way by giving appropriate consideration to social as well as environmental and economic aspects.

In general, the world has evolved towards globalisation and the promotion of international trade and foreign investment has become one of the main elements of the strategies for economic development. This will undoubtedly have an impact on the minerals and metals sector, which produces numerous commodities. Traditional barriers to the movement of goods, services and people are being lowered. At the same time, regional trading blocks are being established in areas of significant common interest. As these traditional tariff barriers to trade are removed, however, competing interests have found more innovative approaches to protecting their markets. One such area that is receiving increased attention is in the area of environmental protection. The international trend in certain fora is towards more environmental controls and restrictions on the use of chemicals including minerals and metals (inorganics), in some cases without adequate scientific support. This is an important issue because it can have a significant and negative impact on the use of minerals and metals in multiple applications and markets. Governments need to work towards a better understanding of the social, economic and environmental aspects of minerals and metals, and respond to activities that would inappropriately restrict market access.

All countries need to participate in international fora related to minerals and metals in order to discuss their own national positions and priorities. This indicates a role for Governments, which should promote active participation and coordinate the development of national positions, which should be based on economic, environmental and social issues. This position should result from a consultative process with all relevant governmental and non-governmental organisations, representing all stakeholders. National positions should reflect local/regional priorities, which need not be the same elsewhere in the world.

It was recognized that the international market place is changing. Consumers are not only concerned about quality and cost, but are also increasingly concerned about safety and potential adverse environmental effects related to the products they use. The marketing of "Green Products", eco-labelling, life-cycle analysis and the adoption of international standards or codes of practice such as the ISO 14000 by industry are a reflection of this trend. Like governments, the mining industry needs to be aware of these trends and participate in the development of international standards that best reflect the conditions and priorities related to their operations.

During the last decade, the precautionary principle has increasingly been used as a mechanism for decision making to respond to environmental concerns. This raises the need to ensure that the required scientific evidence is available and that this information reaches the regulators, as well as the consumer community, so that appropriate decisions can be taken. In general, scientific understanding of minerals and metals and their compounds or alloys needs to be improved, taking into account the specific characteristics, which result from considering the regional/local geology and physical environment as well as the local/regional priorities. All countries of the Americas need to support and undertake this research, including the development of national scientific capacities.

The safe use of minerals and metals requires a risk-based approach during various stages of the life-cycle for meeting environmental management and social objectives. There is a need to properly identify hazard characteristics and undertake risk assessments, risk-benefit analysis and implement relevant risk management options. The word safe in this context does not mean to imply absolutely safe or risk free, but within the bounds of what is acceptable to society and consistent with the principles of sustainable development, that is to say, high benefits, low risk. Recognizing that minerals and metals are inorganic naturally occurring substances, which behave differently from organic substances, they require appropriate methodologies for risk assessment and risk management. Among other factors, toxicity, bioavailability and speciation issues of minerals and metals need to be adequately considered. Governments might consider requesting the OECD, in cooperation with interested non-OECD countries, to develop particular testing and other criteria that are applicable to inorganic substances like minerals and metals.

Recycling is also a fundamental component to the sustainable use of minerals and metals. Recycled materials represent a vital secondary source of supply that extends the life-cycle of these materials, reduces pressures on landfills and provides energy savings. Sustainable recycling activities require efficient and effective collection systems, environmentally and economically sound technologies for separation and recovery of commodities, and the ability to trade recyclable materials as commercial goods.

In certain cases, proposals for action are based more on the perceived risks rather than sound science, therefore, improved communication and a better understanding of risk will assist decision making related to the safe use of minerals and metals. Addressing perceptions, using good science for risk communication, as well as providing the necessary education and training to address and minimize the real risks are important steps to be undertaken. This work will enhance efficient and effective risk-management decision-making and reduce the potential of inappropriate or costly constraints on the use of minerals and metals.

All the relevant stakeholders need to be constructively involved in the decision making process to enhance the development of policies and implementation of safe use activities at the minerals and metals industry level. Among others, these could include: governments, industry, workers, academics, local communities, non government organisations, consumers, scientific institutions and international organisations. There was consensus on the need to develop a network to share scientific, technical and best practices information as a useful tool for all involved stakeholders.

In summary, there is a need to recognize the important role that minerals and metals have in society, not only as an economic driver for development, but also to enhance quality of life. The safe use and production of minerals and metals can be done in a sustainable way by giving appropriate consideration to environmental, economic as well as social aspects. There is a need to publicly emphasize the social national and regional benefits including employment and infrastructure development derived from the exploration, safe production, use and recycling of minerals and metals. The safe use principle can contribute to the responsible management of minerals and metals at each stage through their life-cycle as well as striving to maximize benefits, while simultaneously minimizing risks. The industry, in particular, needs to demonstrate stewardship of their products and the way in which they are produced and used. As well, a better understanding of the factors that encourage or impede the application of the safe use principle is required, consistent with the principles of sustainable development.