Workshop of the Chemicals in Products project

In May, 2009, the second session of the International Conference of Chemicals Management (ICCM2) adopted a resolution agreeing to implement a project on Chemicals in Products. The project has the overall goal of promoting the implementation of paragraph 15 (b) of the Overall Policy Strategy of the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) concerning the availability of information on chemicals throughout their life-cycle including, where appropriate, chemicals in products (CiP). ICCM2 recognized that further action are needed to fulfill the SAICM goal that by 2020 chemicals are used and produced in ways that minimize significant adverse effects on human health and the environment. With the view to take appropriate cooperative action, the Conference agreed to consider further needs to improve information on chemicals in products in the supply chain and throughout their life cycle.

The Conference invited UNEP to lead and facilitate the project and to constitute a Steering Group (SG) to advise on the project development and implementation. The Conference further agreed that the following tasks be undertaken:

1. collect and review existing information on information systems pertaining to chemicals in products including but not limited to regulations, standards and industry practices;
2. assess that information in relation to the needs of all relevant stakeholders and identify gaps;
3. develop specific recommendations for actions to promote implementation of the SAICM with regard to such information, incorporating identified priorities and access and delivery mechanisms

UNEP will report on the project implementation and its outcomes to the SAICM Open-Ended Working Group (in mid 2011) and to ICCM3 (in mid 2012).