SAICM

In addition, SAICM has a direct impact on industry, consumer protection, and agriculture. For both developing countries and newly industrialised countries, SAICM is particularly relevant in the field of capacity building, although it must be noted that, as a whole, SAICM is a very important approach to promote chemical safety worldwide. 

The strategic approach to international chemical management is a voluntary strategy for global and sustainable chemical management, such that it covers the entire life cycle (production, transport, use, and disposal) and assumes the role of an overarching umbrella framework for already existing multilateral environmental treaties, such as the Stockholm and Rotterdam Conventions, as well as the ILO conventions and WHO health strategies.

The strategy was adopted at the International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM).

The 5th session of the International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM5), organized by UNEP and hosted by the government of Germany who holds the presidency of this fifth session of the Conference, will take place from 25 to 29 September 2023 at the World Conference Center Bonn (WCCB) with a High-level Segment (HLS) on 28 and 29 September 2023. ICCM5 has a potential to be an important milestone with the expected adoption of the “The Beyond 2020 global chemical and waste framework” and the Bonn High-level Declaration on Chemicals and Waste.

Pollution is one of the three planetary crises threatening our future, alongside climate change and biodiversity loss. Improper management of chemicals and waste leads to negative impact on human health, climate, environment, and biodiversity. Moreover, the impacts of exposure to chemical pollution threaten socio-economic development and prosperity.

This is why Germany invites representatives from politics, international organisations, business and civil society to a high-level political dialogue to send a clear message that improving global chemical safety remains of highest political priority.

At the virtual conference "Berlin Forum on Chemicals and Sustainability" representatives from governments, international organisations, businesses and civil society groups will talk about structuring the future of global chemicals and waste management to cope with the challenges posed by rapidly growing production and use of chemicals and the associated risks for human health and the environment. The Berlin Forum will start on 7 July 2021 with a high-level ministerial dialogue with statements from UN Secretary-General António Guterres and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. The Berlin Forum will continue with the stakeholder dialogue on 8 July 2021.