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Have you ever noticed how many chemicals shape people’s daily lives? They keep homes sparkling clean, boost food production, and are included in virtually all manufactured goods surrounding you right now. Chemicals drive the economy but as we produce more than ever before, they have to deliver their benefits without damaging our health and environment.Toxic lead paint for example is still used in many regions of the world and Highly hazardous pesticides continue to poison agricultural workers and contaminate the

The ChallengeThe Strategic Approach To International Chemicals Management (SAICM) mandate expires in 2020, long before we will reach the target of minimizing the health and environmental impacts of chemicals throughout their lifecycle. Overall progress has been uneven and there is still a significant need for development and implementation of effective chemical and waste management policies and practices around the globe.What We DoSAICM provides a valuable multi-stakeholder forum to discuss and address the many challenges facing the adoption and implemen-tation of

Pollination is the transfer of pollen between the male and female parts of flowers to enable fertilization and reproduction. The majority of cultivated and wild plants depend on animal vectors, known as pollinators, to transfer pollen. However, other means of pollen transfer such as self-pollination or wind-pollination are also important. Pollinators comprise a diverse group of animals dominated by insects, especially bees. More than 75% of the leading types of global good crops are visited by animal pollinators, such as

We use a wide variety of chemical compounds to prevent living organisms from damaging crops and spreading diseases like malaria. These compounds are collectively termed pesticides. These days the majority of pesticides have low to moderate acute toxicity. But despite their many positive developments, there remain a small but significant group of Highly Hazardous Pesticides that cause illness and environmental damage.Not only because they are very toxic, but also because they remain active for a long time after being released

We live in a chemical world. Almost everything we touch contains chemicals.

Agriculture in Ethiopia is the foundation of the country's economy. In an effort to increase production and productivity, the agriculture sector puts the use of inputs like pesticides and fertilizers as driving forces.The use of agricultural inputs, including pesticides, was introduced to smallholder farmers from the 1960s through agricultural extension systems. Since then, pesticide use by smallholder farmers showed a steady growth. This increasing trend in the use of pesticides as part of a development plan poses threats to human

The factsheet entitled "The potential key role of SAICM Focal Points in reducing harm from Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs)" was produced by stakeholders from the University of Cape Town, the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management, the Food and Agriculture Organization and Umweltbundesamt. This factsheet was developed to ensure information about HHPs reaches all SAICM National Focal Points and other relevant stakeholders for them to make effective and informed decisions and play an active role in facilitating the reduction of