Global Chemical Management

Chemical pollution of the environment shows no respect for national borders and countries on their own cannot respond effectively to global pollution.

Recognising this, international organisations like the United Nations Environment Program and the Food and Agricultural Organisation assist countries to develop international agreements on chemicals and waste.

Some of the agreements are in the form of legally binding conventions such as the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) whereas, others are voluntary programs such as the Strategic Approach to International Chemical Management 2006 (SAICM). This sort of international action by countries is an effective way of ensuring global controls on chemical use and waste trade as well as international bans of the most dangerous toxic chemicals.

The coordinated implementation of these ‘multilateral environmental agreements’ (MEAs)  forms the basis for effective life cycle management of chemicals at a national, regional and international level. The MEA programs also provide financial and technical support for developing countries.

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International Chemical Agreements
Stockholm Convention on POPs
Basel Convention on Hazardous Waste
Rotterdam Convention on Prior Informed Consent
Life Cycle Management of Toxic Chemicals
Strategic Approach to International Chemical Management (SAICM)
International POPs Elimination Network (IPEN)
Principles of Chemicals’ Policy Reform
International POPs Elimination Project (IPEP)