C 2003/INF/19 |
|
C 2003/INF/19 |
Thirty-second Session |
Rome, 29 November - 10 December 2003 |
Report on the Development of a Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) |
1. A process for the development of a strategic approach to international chemicals management (SAICM) has been initiated in response to decisions of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) at its seventh special session in February 2002 and its twenty-second session in February 2003. The outcome of these discussions will be relevant to FAO’s programmes on pesticides.
2. The Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in February 2002 decided in its decision SS.VII/3, that there was a need to develop a Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) (Appendix I). In February 2003 it decided in its decision 22/4 to proceed with the further development of a strategic approach and set out how it might be developed (Appendix II).
3. This initiative was endorsed by the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, which called for the completion of the SAICM by 2005 and set a target of 2020 for ensuring that chemicals are produced and used in ways that lead to the minimization of significant adverse effects on human health and the environment1.
4. The SAICM will build upon the Bahia Declaration and Priorities for Action Beyond 2000 adopted by the Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety (IFCS) in 2000, by reviewing current activities and addressing gaps. Further guidance on the content of the SAICM has been provided in the form of “possible draft elements” contributed by Governments, international organizations and other actors at the invitation of UNEP Governing Council.
5. A feature of the SAICM process will be its engagement of all sectors of society with an interest in chemical safety, including environment, health, agriculture, labour, industry and development. Policy coordination across the sectors at both national and international levels will be important to ensure effective management of risks throughout chemicals’ life-cycle of production, use and disposal.
6. The scope of the SAICM remains to be determined by the stakeholders. A broad spectrum of policy, coordination and capacity-building questions are likely to be considered, ranging from possible international action on emerging issues, through mainstreaming of chemical safety as a matter of sustainable development, and mobilising resources to enhance the capacity of developing countries and economies in transition.
7. At its 56th session in May 2003, the World Health Assembly (WHA) of the WHO adopted Resolution 56.22 which expressed full support for UNEP Governing Council decision 22/4 to further develop a SAICM “following an open, transparent and inclusive process and providing all stakeholders opportunities to participate; and the invitation to a range of international organizations, including WHO, to collaborate actively in the further development of the strategic approach” and recognized the need for health interests at country level to be reflected in, and addressed by, the SAICM. This decision also urged Member States to take full account of the health aspects of chemical safety in further development of the SAICM and requested the Director-General of WHO inter alia: to submit a progress report to the WHA before the estimated date of completion of the SAICM; and when completed, to submit the SAICM to the WHA for consideration.
8. At its 91st session in June 2003, the International Labour Conference of the ILO adopted a resolution calling on the ILO to contribute to the further development of a SAICM, to “ensure the full participation of employers’ and workers’ organizations in this process so that their views and interests are duly taken into account”, and to present the final outcome of the SAICM process to ILO decision-making bodies for consideration.
9. A steering committee has been formed to oversee planning for the SAICM process within the framework of the Inter-Organization Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals (IOMC). Members of the Committee include the seven participating organizations of the IOMC, the IFCS, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Bank. The seven IOMC members are the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), UNEP, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), and the World Health Organization (WHO).
10. It is envisaged that there will be two preparatory committee meetings (PrepComs)followed by a high level meeting possibly in conjunction with the Environment Ministers meeting early in 2006.
11. Substantive development of the SAICM will commence at “PrepCom1” at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok from 9 to 13 November 2003.
12. A key factor in the successful development of the SAICM will be for participation of all relevant sectors including agriculture, environment and health. The invitations to the first meeting were sent to UNEP official contact points as well as IFCS focal points. Copies of the invitation were also sent to FAO representatives in countries and to Permanent Representatives in Rome in order to ensure that the Agricultural sector is aware of the meeting and that participants in the SAICM process reflect a full range of views.
The Governing Council:
Recalling its decisions 18/12 of 26 May 1995, 19/13 of 7 February 1997 and 20/23 of 4 February 1999, as well as its decision 21/7 of 9 February 2001 concerning global policies related to chemicals management,
Conscious of the essential role of the sound management of chemicals throughout their life cycle, including the management of hazardous wastes, in achieving sustainable development,
Welcoming the important ongoing work of the Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety and the identification of priorities for action in its October 2000 Bahia Declaration and Priorities for Action beyond 2000,i
Taking note of the progress made by the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee in preparing for the entry into force of the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade,
Taking note of the activities being undertaken by the United Nations Environment Programme in collaboration with the Global Environment Facility and other partners in preparing for the entry into force and implementation of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants,
Taking note of the activities carried out under the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal to strengthen international cooperation in environmentally sound management of hazardous wastes and its contribution to the effective implementation of chapters 19 and 20 of Agenda 21,ii
Acknowledging the increasing need for effective capacity-building and technical assistance to assist developing countries and countries with economies in transition in implementing existing international legal instruments for management of chemicals and hazardous wastes and to meet future challenges in chemical safety, including the protection of human health and the environment,
Reaffirming the commitment to decision 21/5 concerning the global assessment of mercury and decision 21/6 concerning lead in gasoline, of 9 February 2001,
Reaffirming its commitment to decisions 21/3 and 21/4 of 9 February 2001 calling for the ratification, acceptance, approval or accession to the Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions with a view to their entry into force as soon as possible,
Recognizing the need to promote the expeditious implementation of existing international, including regional, treaties and agreements concerning chemicals management by the Parties thereto,
Recognizing the need for all countries to have access to alternatives to hazardous chemicals that are safer, efficient and cost-effective as well as to related technology and to easy access to the latest developments and knowledge regarding hazardous substances and their alternatives,
Having reviewed the report of the Executive Director on strategic approach to international chemicals management,iii
Noting the upcoming World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg from 26 August to 4 September 2002, and the opportunity that it presents for further progress in implementing chapters 19 and 20 of Agenda 21,
1. Decides that there is a need to further develop a strategic approach to international chemicals management and endorses the Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety (IFCS) Bahia Declaration and Priorities for Action Beyond 2000 as the foundation of this approach;
2. Requests the Executive Director in pursuing this decision to take fully into account the special circumstances of developing countries and countries with economies in transition;
3. Requests the Executive Director, together with the Inter-Organization Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals (IOMC), in consultation with Governments, the IFCS, the Global Environment Facility and other major agencies responsible for the funding and delivery of international development cooperation, other relevant organizations and stakeholders, to identify actions currently underway or planned at the international, regional or national levels to advance the sound management of chemicals, with particular reference to the IFCS Bahia Declaration and Priorities for Action Beyond 2000;
4. Requests the Executive Director to work within the IOMC, with the IFCS, Governments and other relevant organizations and stakeholders, to identify any gaps in the IFCS Bahia Declaration and Priorities for Action Beyond 2000 or in the implementation of these priorities and suggest remedies for any identified gaps;
5. Requests the Executive Director to identify concrete projects and priorities in the context of a strategic approach to international chemicals management, working with key partners such as the secretariats of the Rotterdam Convention, the Stockholm Convention and the Basel Convention, and the IFCS;
6. Requests the Executive Director, together with the IFCS and with the IOMC, to convene an open-ended consultative meeting involving representatives of all stakeholder groups, subject to the availability of extrabudgetary resources, to contribute to the further development, based on these analyses, of a strategic approach to international chemicals management;
7. Underlines that the strategic approach to international chemicals management should promote the incorporation of chemical safety issues into the development agenda and identify concrete proposals for strengthening capacity for the sound management of chemicals and the related technologies in all countries, taking into account the vast difference in capabilities between developed and developing countries in this field;
8. Calls upon Governments and other actors to make available information, especially on alternatives to hazardous chemicals, technical assistance, information on arrangements for promoting access to and the transfer of environmentally sound technology, capacity-building, and funding necessary to assist developing countries, especially least developed countries, and countries with economies in transition to take active part in this endeavour;
9. Urges Governments, the IOMC, the IFCS and other relevant organizations and stakeholders to participate actively in this process;
10. Invites the World Summit for Sustainable Development3 to:11. Requests the Executive Director to report to it at its twenty-second session on progress made in implementing this decision, including options for taking the process forward, and on the contribution of the United Nations Environment Programme towards the implementation of the IFCS Bahia Declaration and Priorities for Action Beyond 2000.
The Governing Council,
Recalling its decisions 18/12 of 26 May 1995, 19/13 of 7 February 1997, 20/23 of 4 February 1999 and SS.VII/3 of 15 February 2002 concerning global policies related to chemicals management and the necessity to further develop a strategic approach to international chemicals management,
Taking note of the substantive work on chemical safety undertaken by the Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety and the importance of its contribution to the further development of the strategic approach to international chemicals management, to be conducted in a fully participatory manner in conformity with decision SS.VII/3, including identifying any gaps in the implementation of the Bahia Declaration and Priorities for Action beyond 2000,iv and suggesting remedies for any identifiable gaps,
Recalling also the aim set out in paragraph 23 of the Plan of Implementation,v adopted by the World Summit on Sustainable Development on 4 September 2002, of achieving, by 2020, that chemicals are used and produced in ways that lead to the minimization of significant adverse effects on human health and the environment, using transparent science-based risk assessment procedures and science-based risk management procedures, taking into account the precautionary approach, as set out in principle 15 of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, and support developing countries in strengthening their capacity for the sound management of chemicals and hazardous waste by providing technical and financial assistance,
Recalling further paragraph 23 (b) of the Plan of Implementation, in which the World Summit endorsed the further development of a strategic approach to international chemicals management based on the Bahia Declaration and Priorities for Action beyond 2000 of the Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety by 2005, and urged that the United Nations Environment Programme, the Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety, other international organizations dealing with chemical management, and other relevant international organizations and actors closely cooperate in this regard, as appropriate,
Having considered the progress report of the Executive Director on the strategic approach to international chemicals management (UNEP/GC.22/INF/22),
Noting the preparatory work undertaken by the steering committee formed to act as a facilitative steering mechanism to deal with practical aspects of the strategic approach process and comprising representatives of the seven participating organizations of the Inter-Organization Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals, the Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety, the World Bank and the United Nations Development Programme,
1. Decides to proceed with the further development of a strategic approach as envisioned in decision SS.VII/3 and underlines that the scope of the strategic approachvi should be clearly defined and take into account economic, social and environmental aspects of chemicals management, with a view to contributing to sustainable development, and decides that this approach should be regularly reviewed to assess progress on chemical safety, in the light of the targets set at the World Summit on Sustainable Development, in cooperation with other relevant processes;
2. Requests the Executive Director to compile possible draft elements of such a strategic approach for consideration by the first preparatory meeting and invites Governments, relevant international organizations and other actors to contribute to that compilation;
3. Endorses the concept of an open-ended consultative process involving representatives of all stakeholder groups as envisaged in decision SS.VII/3, taking the form of preparatory meetings and the convening of an international conference;
4. Requests the Executive Director to propose to the co-conveners that they consider holding the international conference in conjunction with the ninth special session of the Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum in early 2006, with a view to the latter serving as a high-level segment of the conference that would consider adopting the completed strategic approach document on behalf of the United Nations Environment Programme and inviting the governing bodies of other relevant organizations also to endorse it;
5. Calls upon the Executive Director to strive to ensure that the process of further developing the strategic approach remains open, transparent and inclusive, providing all stakeholders opportunities to participate in the substantive work;
6. Invites participating organizations in the Inter-Organization Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals, Governments, the Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety, the Global Environment Facility and other major agencies responsible for the funding and delivery of international development cooperation, and other relevant organizations and stakeholders, to collaborate actively in the further development of the strategic approach;
7. Notes the importance of coordination between the development of the strategic approach to international chemicals management and the work of the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade, the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants and the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal, and the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer and its Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, with due regard to their respective mandates;
8. Calls upon Governments and other stakeholders to contribute the extrabudgetary resources needed to support the further development of the strategic approach;
9. Requests the Executive Director to report at the eighth special session of the Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum on progress in the development of a strategic approach;
10. Requests the Executive Director to report to the twenty-third session of the Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum on progress and the outcomes of the preparatory meetings;
11. Requests the Executive Director to provide additional resourcesvii for the implementation of the present decision to cover its core infrastructure costs.
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1 “Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development,”Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August to 4 September 2002, para 23.
i Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety, Third Session, Forum III final report (IFCS/Forum III/23w), annex 6.
ii Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992. A/CONF.151/26/Rev.1 (Vol. I and Vol.I/Corr.1, Vol. II, Vol. III and Vol. III/Corr.1) (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.1.8 and corrigenda), Vol. I: Resolutions Adopted by the Conference, resolution 1, annex II.
iii UNEP/GCSS.VII/INF/1 and INF/1/Add.1.
iv Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety, third session, Forum III final report (IFCS/Forum III/23w), annex 6.
v Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.I, resolution 2, annex.
vi Heavy metals and their compounds are included in the definition of chemicals for the purpose of the further development of the strategic approach to international chemicals management.
vii Estimated by the secretariat to be $600,000 for the biennium.