In 2002, the World Summit on Sustainable Development agreed to minimize the negative effects of chemicals on environment and health by 2020. To implement this 2020 goal, the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) was founded in 2006 as a voluntary, multi-sector, multi-stakeholder forum to help enhance chemical management around the globe.
ICCA has been a strong partner and active participant in helping SAICM achieve its 2020 goal since its founding. SAICM’s unique format has led to partnerships and collaboration between stakeholders that would not have been possible under a traditional multilateral agreement where government representatives are the primary participants. ICCA has a partnership with the UN Environment Program to conduct joint projects in support of the SAICM objectives. ICCA contributes to SAICM’s goals in numerous ways, including through our commitment to Responsible Care and Capacity Building.
SAICM stakeholders share a common commitment to strengthening chemicals management around the world. Government officials from developed and developing nations, NGOs and other elements of civil society, and experts from industry are each contributing their perspectives and knowledge to build a stronger foundation for sound chemicals management. This collaborative approach has allowed for different regions to develop tools and approaches that are best suited to their individual needs and circumstances and that are complementary to their existing governmental requirements, as they vary greatly from region to region.
SAICM’s mandate ends in 2020 and stakeholders have been discussing the creation of a new global framework on the management of chemicals, based on the SAICM model, to begin in 2021. ICCA believes that beyond 2020, the SAICM framework should maintain its voluntary, multi-stakeholder, multi-sectorial nature, and continue to focus on its core work: building basic chemicals management capacity in countries that need it most through, for example, promoting effective chemical legislative and regulatory regimes at the national level and promoting the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) to ensure that chemicals are labeled and handled safely.
There is strong global support for the continuation of SAICM beyond 2020. However, many stakeholders, including ICCA, are seeking additional ambition in the global management of chemicals and waste issues. Specially, ICCA supports:
