New global chemicals strategy given green light by governments

Citation

(2006), "New global chemicals strategy given green light by governments", Management of Environmental Quality, Vol. 17 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/meq.2006.08317dag.001

New global chemicals strategy given green light by governments

New global chemicals strategy given green light by governments

A new global initiative aimed at making chemicals safer for humans and the planet was agreed in early 2006 and is now being implemented.

Called the “strategic approach to international chemicals management” or SAICM, the new initiative covers risk assessments of chemicals and harmonized labelling up to tackling obsolete and stockpiled products. It also carries provisions for national centres aimed at helping countries, especially in the developing world, train staff in chemical safety including dealing with spills and accidents.

The initiative contained in the so-called Dubai Declaration and agreed to by over 100 environment and health ministers puts the globe on track to meet a commitment made at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002. At the time, governments agreed to aim to use and produce chemicals in ways that minimize adverse effects to health and the environment. The strategy way among the first concrete outcomes of the 2005 World Summit held in New York in September attended by heads of state. SAICM, a voluntary agreement, comes at a time when global chemical production is set to climb by as much as 80 per cent over the next 15 years. Between 70,000 and 100,000 chemicals may be already on the market with an estimated 1,500 new ones being marketed each year.

Over the years, a range of chemical-related treaties have come into force including the Stockholm Convention on persistent organic pollutants. It covers chemicals like the pesticide DDT and substances such as PCBs once widely used in certain kinds of electrical equipment.

Many governments have also given support to a multi million dollar fund called “Quick Start” Programme aimed at giving financial support to national action plans especially in least developed countries and small island developing states. UNEP, which helped organize the Dubai meeting along with other UN bodies and organizations and which involved participation from industry, business, trade unions and other civil society groups, will house the SAICM Secretariat.

Details of the Special Session of the UNEP Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum including on the International Conference on Chemicals Management, can be found at: http://www.unep.org/gc/gcss-ix/