UNDERSTANDING SAICM

1. UNDERSTANDING SAICM Dr. Ahmed Al-Hazmi GM, Environmental Affairs

2. OUTLINE • What is SAICM? • What areas are covered by SAICM? • How does SAICM interact with otheragreements? • What are the key objectives of SAICM? • What are the challenges in implementing SAICM?

3. SAICM development • The Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) was mandated by the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) and endorsedby the Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002 and the New York World Summit in September 2005. • It has been developed by a multi-stakeholder Preparatory Committee, co-convened by UNEP, the Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety (IFCS) and theInter-Organization Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals (IOMC).

4. UNEP: GLOBAL CHEMICALS OUTLOOK

5. SAICM: What It Is SAICM is a global policy framework. By 2020, chemicals should be produced and used in ways that lead to the minimization of significant adverse effects on human health and the environment Has a broad scope, covering but not limited to: Environmental, economic, social, health and labor aspects of chemical safety Agricultural and industrial chemicals with a view to promoting sustainable development and covering chemicals at all stages of their life cycle, including in products Should take account of instruments and processes already developed Should be flexible enough to deal with new ones without duplicating efforts, in particular the efforts of forums dealing with the military uses of chemicals Source: UNEP

6. SAICM areas Source: UNEP

7. Scope of Chemical Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) SAICM: Strategic Approach To Chemicals Management Basel Convention: Control OfTransboundary Movements Of Hazardous Wastes And Their Disposal Other chemicals of concern Rotterdam Convention: Prior informed consent Chemical ‘coverage’ Stockholm Convention: Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Specific Chlorinated Compounds Production Trade Use Waste & disposal Chemical ‘life cycle’ Source: UNEP

8. SAICM: Overarching Policy Strategy (OPS) Objectives Achieve sound management of chemicals throughout life-cycle by 2020 Five (5) objectives: Risk reduction Knowledge and information Governance Capacity-building and technical cooperation Illegal international traffic

9. SAICM: Overarching Policy Strategy (OPS) Objectives Objective 1: RISK REDUCTION To minimize risks to human health, including that of workers, and to the environment throughout the life cycle of chemicals To ensure that humans and ecosystemsthat are vulnerable or subject to exposureto chemicals are protected and taken into account in making decisions on chemicals To implement transparent, comprehensive,and effective risk management strategies based on appropriate scientific understanding, including of health and environmental effects, and appropriate social and economic analysis

10. SAICM: Overarching Policy Strategy (OPS) Objectives Objective 2: KNOWLEDGE & INFORMATION To ensure for all stakeholders: That information on chemicals throughouttheir life cycle is available, user friendly, adequate and appropriate to the needs of all stakeholders. (Information include effects on human health and the environment, potential uses, etc.) That such information is disseminated in appropriate languages by making full use ofthe media, hazard communication mechanisms such as the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals and relevant provisions of international agreements.

11. SAICM: Overarching Policy Strategy (OPS) Objectives Objective 3: GOVERNANCE To strengthen enforcement and encourage the implementation of national laws and regulations regarding chemicals management To promote relevant codes of conduct, including those relating to corporate environmental andsocial responsibility To promote mutual supportiveness betweentrade and environmental policies To provide and support enabling frameworks for business to develop and improve products that advance the objectives of the Strategic Approach

12. SAICM: Overarching Policy Strategy (OPS) Objectives Objective 4: CAPACITY-BUILDING & To develop and implement sustainable capacity-building strategies and to promote cooperation among countries To promote coordination of and access to information on capacity-building for the sound management of chemicals and to enhance transparency and accountability To encourage stakeholders to develop andpromote programs on chemical safety andscientific research and analysis TECHNICAL COOPERATION

13. SAICM: Overarching Policy Strategy (OPS) Objectives Objective 5: ILLEGAL INTERNATIONAL To prevent illegal international traffic in toxic, hazardous, banned and severely restricted chemicals To strengthen mechanisms and domestic and regional implementation supporting multilateral agreements relating to the prevention of illegal international traffic To promote information sharing and to strengthen the capacity of countries at the national and regional levels for the prevention and control of illegal international traffic TRAFFIC

14. SAICM Implementation: Quick Start Programme (QSP) Strategic Priorities National chemical profiles & identification of capacity needs Strengthening national chemicals management institutions, plans, programs and activities to implement SAICM (building upon work conducted to implement international chemicals-related agreements) Undertaking analysis, inter-agency coordination, and public participation activities to implement SAICM by integrating sound management of chemicals in national strategies

15. Global chemical production • Global chemical production is continuing to increase in volume and complexity • Production of chemicals is becoming moreevenly distributed internationally • Growth in production and use of chemicals in developing countries is outpacing the ability to implement regulatory regimes for sound management of chemicals. • Hazard information is lacking for the vast majority of chemicals • Sound management is critical to protecting human health and the environment

16. Conclusions Some countries have not yet developed and submitted their National Implementation Plans on chemicals or not even ratified all major chemicals conventions There is a general lack of information on chemicals and hence limited advocacy on environmental and health aspects, in turn contributing to mismanagement and continued use of chemicals banned elsewhere Lack of comprehensive records of health impacts as a result of poisoningwith chemicals and heavy metals, although some data on pesticides poisoning exist Insufficient comprehensive monitoring of chemical contaminants (e.g. POPs)in the environment prevents effective planning of remediation activities

17. Conclusions Limited collaboration of government with private sector and civil society presents a barrier toward sound chemicals management More awareness and advocacy activities in the GCC countries to educate thepublic on adverse effects of hazardous chemicals

18. Thank you