A/HRC/30/40 of the information generated and assessments performed, through government oversight, the involvement of third parties, or some combination thereof to ensure the reliability of information. Direct or indirect financial ties and other conflicts of interest must be disclosed; (v) States should ensure that reliable baseline information is generated for the presence of hazardous substances in air, water and soil that may be released by extractive or other industrial activities before such activities begin; (vi) Where information is unavailable, States should make the public aware of missing information and exercise caution to prevent possible adverse impacts while information is generated, collected and assessed; (b) To ensure information is accessible: (i) States must actively inform the public of the risks of hazardous substances and wastes, including those at risk of disproportionate impacts. States should ensure that people have access in adequate languages and formats to information on specific adverse impacts of hazardous substances released into their environment and in everyday products; (ii) States must immediately communicate to the public imminent threats to public health and the environment. States should ensure that all information that would enable the public to prevent harm is disseminated. Businesses whose activities result in imminent threats must convey to the government authorities and the public a threat to public health or the environment, providing full access to information about risks, impacts and mitigation measures; (iii) States should create a centralized system that is physically and economically accessible regrouping all relevant information on hazardous substances and wastes and its impact on human health and the environment, including concerns raised with national and subnational authorities and businesses; (iv) States and businesses should be guided by the principle of full disclosure, allowing secrecy only when the necessity and legitimacy of confidentiality are proved. States must require that claims of confidentiality be justified and periodically resubstantiated. Grounds for the refusal of access to information must be interpreted in a restrictive way, taking into account the public interest served by disclosure. If information exempted from disclosure can be separated out without prejudice to the confidentiality of the information exempted, public authorities must disseminate the remainder of the information requested (v) States should ensure any limitations to the right of access to information on hazardous substance and wastes should be in conformity with the law, the principle of proportionality and necessity, reasonable purpose and objective and protection of the right of others; (vi) Information relevant to the protection of and respect for human rights should never be considered “confidential” or “secret”. Health and safety information about hazardous substances and wastes should not be confidential, including emissions into the environment, toxicity studies and chemical identity; (vii) States and businesses should provide an exhaustive list of information or types of information that is not publicly accessible but provided to governments, including the reason for non-disclosure; 22

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