Conference on Chemicals Management
On 11-15 May, Geneva hosted the second meeting of the International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM2). The event brought together some 800 participants from 147 countries, representatives of industry and interest groups, international and non-governmental organisations.
The International Conference on Chemicals Management is the decision-making body of the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM). The objective of SAICM is to achieve sound management of chemicals throughout their life cycle so that, by 2020, they are produced and used in ways that minimise their adverse impacts on human health and the environment. ICCM2 aims to evaluate the process of implementation of SAICM.
The conference succeeded in finding responses to certain outstanding issues related to the administrative aspects of the entire process. The delegates adopted rules of procedure that allow all interest groups to take part in the process and provided for obligations related to the submission of reports and for procedures that make it possible to include further activities into the SAICM Global Plan of Action. They also approved the mode of work in the inter-session period up to 2012.
The delegates addressed the issue of funding of the entire SAICM implementation process and emerging themes in the field of chemicals. They also discussed and approved a procedure to monitor these new themes. They proposed a common procedure for four of the newly identified issues – sharing information on chemicals in products, electric and electronic products management, removing risks resulting from the use of lead in indoor paints and transfer of information on manufactured nanomaterials and nanotechnologies.
The conference also addressed the issue of funding of the whole SAICM process. With respect to the diversity of the SAICM activities, the types of their funding also need to be diverse – from national investments to regional programmes and global aid. The aim of this conference was to highlight the close relationship between correct management of chemicals and health as well as its connection to the private sector. Emphasising such connections could facilitate the mobilisation of resources for further activities within the SAICM framework.
The conference was accompanied by an award ceremony for supporters of SAICM. A total of 45 sponsors, including the Czech Republic and the European Commission, were awarded. “The European Commission provided more than 70% of all resources for projects funded from the Fast Track Programme (limited in duration and scope) that provides funding for initiating SAICM activities in developing countries and in countries whose economy is undergoing transformation,” stated Deputy Minister of the Environment and member of the delegation of the Czech Presidency Karel Bláha.
The next conference in 2012 will assess the effectiveness of the Strategic Approach and potentially revise the same so that its goals may be reached before 2020.
Contact:
- Jakub Kašpar, Spokesperson of the Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic
- tel.: +420 267 122 040, mobile: +420 724 175 927; e-mail: jakub.kaspar@mzp.cz
Last update: 16.8.2011 15:20
