Programs: Global Chemical Safety Program: Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management

UPCOMING MEETINGS

20–21 August 2009

Meeting of the Africa Core Group (ACG) on the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals

In 2006, governments, industry, and civil society adopted a new global policy and strategy called the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM). SAICM is the international process to engage governments, business and civil society in support of a toxics-free future. It deals not with a few chemicals, but all of them, in all stages of their lifecycle and in all social and economic aspects. The ultimate objective of SAICM is to ensure that, “by the year 2020, chemicals are produced and used in ways that minimize significant adverse impacts on the environment and human health.”

EHF was instrumental in developing the global NGO engagement in the negotiation of SAICM as well as participation at the regional and sub-regional meetings addressing implementation. During 2009, EHF served as the public interest NGO representative on the Friends of Secretariat, which was the main body to guide and plan two international meetings. At the Second International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM2) in May 2009, EHF was nominated to represent the public interest NGO sector on the newly established SAICM Bureau.

SAICM is agreement among all stakeholders in these issues — governments, industry, and civil society. It has five main objectives:

Risk reduction
Knowledge and information
Governance
Capacity-building and technical cooperation
Illegal international traffic

It calls on all stakeholders to address a wide variety of necessary activities, from providing information on chemicals to improving protection for industry employees to preventing the illegal export of toxic substances.

EHF plays a key role in facilitating civil society participation in SAICM

SAICM Global Outreach Campaign — EHF staff manage this global campaign to spread SAICM’s message of a toxics free future to wider audience. The Campaign brings together the following international networks:

Health Care Without Harm (HCWH)
International Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Elimination Network (IPEN)
International Society of Doctors for the Environment (ISDE)
Pesticide Action Network International (PAN)
Women in Europe for a Common Future (WECF)
World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA)

The Campaign achieved the following:

Over 1,000 civil society organizations in over 100 countries endorsed a Common Statement in support of the SAICM process.
Implementing a global mini-grant program, making 51 grants for civil society groups working on chemical safety activities in 36 developing countries or countries with economies in transition to raise awareness of SAICM objectives, and to implement small programs related to the SAICM objectives.
Creating educational booklets: These materials help build awareness about the severe threats to public health and the environment that occur as a result of toxic chemical exposure. The educational materials also describe SAICM and the need to take action in support of sound chemicals management consistent with the SAICM OPS and GPA. Topics for the booklets include:
- SAICM
- Persistent Organic Pollutants
- Heavy Metals
- POPs Pesticides
Creating a global Citizens’ Report that describes the state of SAICM implementation

EHF’s Joe DiGangi is part of the Bureau of SAICM, as the representative of the public interest NGOs from around the world.


Programs Overview Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families Safer Substitutes to Brominated Flame Retardants Equitable and Sustainable Economy American Sustainable Business Council		Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management UPCOMING MEETINGS 20–21 August 2009 Meeting of the Africa Core Group (ACG) on the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Guidance Documents an Summary Reports In 2006, governments, industry, and civil society adopted a new global policy and strategy called the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM). SAICM is the international process to engage governments, business and civil society in support of a toxics-free future. It deals not with a few chemicals, but all of them, in all stages of their lifecycle and in all social and economic aspects. The ultimate objective of SAICM is to ensure that, “by the year 2020, chemicals are produced and used in ways that minimize significant adverse impacts on the environment and human health.” EHF was instrumental in developing the global NGO engagement in the negotiation of SAICM as well as participation at the regional and sub-regional meetings addressing implementation. During 2009, EHF served as the public interest NGO representative on the Friends of Secretariat, which was the main body to guide and plan two international meetings. At the Second International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM2) in May 2009, EHF was nominated to represent the public interest NGO sector on the newly established SAICM Bureau. SAICM is agreement among all stakeholders in these issues — governments, industry, and civil society. It has five main objectives: Risk reduction Knowledge and information Governance Capacity-building and technical cooperation Illegal international traffic It calls on all stakeholders to address a wide variety of necessary activities, from providing information on chemicals to improving protection for industry employees to preventing the illegal export of toxic substances. EHF plays a key role in facilitating civil society participation in SAICM SAICM Global Outreach Campaign — EHF staff manage this global campaign to spread SAICM’s message of a toxics free future to wider audience. The Campaign brings together the following international networks: Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) International Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Elimination Network (IPEN) International Society of Doctors for the Environment (ISDE) Pesticide Action Network International (PAN) Women in Europe for a Common Future (WECF) World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA) The Campaign achieved the following: Over 1,000 civil society organizations in over 100 countries endorsed a Common Statement in support of the SAICM process. Implementing a global mini-grant program, making 51 grants for civil society groups working on chemical safety activities in 36 developing countries or countries with economies in transition to raise awareness of SAICM objectives, and to implement small programs related to the SAICM objectives. Creating educational booklets: These materials help build awareness about the severe threats to public health and the environment that occur as a result of toxic chemical exposure. The educational materials also describe SAICM and the need to take action in support of sound chemicals management consistent with the SAICM OPS and GPA. Topics for the booklets include: SAICM Persistent Organic Pollutants Heavy Metals POPs Pesticides Creating a global Citizens’ Report that describes the state of SAICM implementation EHF’s Joe DiGangi is part of the Bureau of SAICM, as the representative of the public interest NGOs from around the world.