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The Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) is a
policy framework for international action on chemical hazards that supports achievement of the
World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD, Johannesburg, 2002) goal to ensure that
"by 2020 chemicals are produced and used in ways that minimize significant adverse impacts on
human health and the environment".
SAICM was developed by a multi-stakeholder Preparatory Committee, co-convened
by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical
Safety (IFCS), and the Inter-Organization Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals
(IOMC).
The UNEP Governing Council (GC) had discussed the concept of a SAICM in various
forms since 1995, consisting of:
- In May 1995, UNEP Governing Council decision 18/12, which required the convening of a
government-designated group of experts to consider what further measures were required
to reduce the risks from a limited number of hazardous chemicals;
- In April 1996, an expert group met to make recommendations in 4 areas: inadequate capacity
of developing countries to handle issues of hazardous chemicals and pesticides; disposal
of unwanted stocks of pesticides and other chemicals; insufficient information for
chemicals management decision-making and action; and possible need to ban and phase out
certain chemicals; and
SAICM was discussed at the fourth session of the IFCS (i.e. Forum IV), held in
Bangkok from 1 to 7 November 2003. As part of its contribution to the SAICM process, the Forum
developed a "thought-starter" document, which considered gaps in the Bahia Declaration and
Priorities for Action Beyond 2000 and their implementation. That document was transmitted to
the first session of the Preparatory Committee for the Development of SAICM.
The SAICM secretariat
UNEP has overall administrative responsibility for the SAICM secretariat, which is
co-located with the UNEP Chemicals and Wastes Cluster in Geneva, Switzerland. The secretariat
is integrated within the Chemicals Branch of the UNEP Division of Technology, Industry and
Economics and works in coordination with the participating organizations of the IOMC and UNDP.
The main functions of the secretariat include facilitation of meetings and intersessional work
of ICCM and regional meetings as well as dissemination of the reports and recommendations of
the Conference. In addition, the SAICM secretariat promotes the establishment and maintenance
of a network of SAICM stakeholders, as well as establishes and maintains a working relationship
with participating organizations of the IOMC in order to draw upon their sectoral expertise.
The Preparatory Committee for the Development of a Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM PrepCom)
| SAICM PrepCom |
Place and date |
Introduction to the session |
| 1 |
Bangkok, Thailand
9-13 November 2003
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PrepCom1 was the first substantive step in the SAICM process, which was
to culminate in an "International Conference on Chemicals Management" at the end of 2005.
It was convened jointly by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the
Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety (IFCS), the Inter-Organization Programme for
the Sound Management of Chemicals (IOMC), the World Bank, and the United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP). About 500 participants represented over 120 countries,
including 127 governments; 19 intergovernmental organizations (IGOs); and 60
non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other observers.
The overarching SAICM goal from the WSSD Johannesburg Summit Plan of Implementation,
i.e. that by 2020, chemicals are used and produced in ways that lead to the minimization
of significant adverse effects on human health and the environment, was adopted. In
addition, participants provided initial comments on potential issues to be addressed
during the development of a SAICM, examined ways to structure discussions on SAICM, and
considered possible outcomes of the SAICM process. The structure of SAICM itself was not
yet agreed but there was broad support for a three-tiered approach for SAICM: a
high-level political declaration, an overarching chemicals policy, and a global
programme of action.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the Committee adopted the report of PrepCom1, including
a summary of discussion held during the session, an addendum containing issues to be
addressed during the development of a SAICM, several annexes containing items to be
forwarded to PrepCom2, and a proposal for intersessional activities.
For more detailed information on PrepCom1, please visit:
http://www.saicm.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=130&Itemid=536.
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| 2 |
Nairobi, Kenya
4-8 October 2004
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PrepCom2 was an opportunity for participants to move beyond the initial
lists of possible elements and to begin to draft the actual SAICM. More than 300
government representatives participated in the meeting, together with representatives
from 14 UN bodies and specialized agencies, 8 intergovernmental organizations (IGOs),
40 non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and other observers.
PrepCom2 took significant steps in clarifying the purpose of SAICM by
agreeing on a tripartite structure for future discussion. SAICM would consist of an
overarching policy strategy (OPS), a global plan of action (GPA) and a high-level
declaration (HLD), with progress made during the session in identifying and elaborating
the elements for the overarching policy strategy. Delegates also agreed on a scope for
the purpose of SAICM's further development and developed objectives for risk reduction,
knowledge and information sharing, governance, capacity building, and addressing illegal
international traffic.
For more detailed information on PrepCom2, please visit:
http://www.saicm.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=137&Itemid=540.
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| 3 |
Vienna, Austria
19 - 24 September 2005
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PrepCom3 was the third and final session of the Preparatory Committee.
Over 595 participants, representing more than 185 governments, intergovernmental and
non-governmental organizations, and United Nations agencies, attended the session.
The stated goal of PrepCom3 was to finalize the 3 main documents that
would constitute SAICM: a high-level declaration (HLD), an overarching policy strategy
(OPS), and a global plan of action (GPA), with "work areas" for chemical safety. But
delegates did not reach agreement on several elements in the 3 documents. In particular,
controversy remained for a number of politically sensitive matters, including financial
considerations, principles and approaches, and the scope of SAICM, as well as activities
in the GPA relating to heavy metals, and the mutual supportiveness of trade and the
environment. As a result, these issues would need to be negotiated at the first
"International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM)", which was to be held from
4-6 February 2006, in Dubai, before SAICM could be adopted. (For more detailed
information about the ICCM, please visit
http://www.saicm.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=78&Itemid=480).
For more detailed information on PreCom3, please visit:
http://www.saicm.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=78&Itemid=480.
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For more detailed information on SAICM, please visit
http://www.saicm.org/index.php?ql=h&content=home
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