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The present Overarching Policy Strategy flows from the commitments expressed in the Dubai Declaration on International Chemicals Management developed in the context of the Rio Declaration, Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation.

The future we want for the sound management of chemicals1.In paragraph 23 of the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, adopted at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002, Governments identified the goal of “achiev[ing] by 2020, that chemicals are used and produced in ways that lead to the minimization of significant adverse effects on human health and the environment” (see appendixA).That goal was further adopted as part of the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management by the International Conference on

UN Environment Programme (UNEP) defines single use plastic products as “an umbrella term for different types of products that are typically used once before being thrown away or recycled” (UNEP 2018), which includes food packaging, bottles, straws, containers, cups, cutlery and shopping bags. It has been estimated that about 100-150 million tonnes of plastics are produced for single use products and about 8 million tonnes of plastics are dumped into the oceans every year (Plastics Oceans 2019)There is a need

The aim of the guidance is to advance broader agreement on a general approach and criteria for the selection of safer alternatives, with a focus on chemical substitution. It is intended to advance a consistent understanding of the minimum requirements needed to determine whether a chemical alternative is safer than the priority chemical, product, or technology for substitution, independent of the entity performing the assessment or the alternatives assessment framework being used.The guidance focuses on minimum assessment criteria and recommended

Better waste management offers great potential to help us meet the sustainability challenges ahead. Targeting decision-makers and many other inter-connected sectors, the Global Waste Management Outlook (GWMO) was launched at the World Congress of The International Solid Waste Association (ISWA) in Belgium on 7 September, 2015 . The publication also contains two summary documents, making the information concise and accessible.Developed by UNEP in collaboration with ISWA in response to the UNEP Governing Council request of February 2013, its goal was

The new version of SAICM texts exists in English only and includes the resolutions adopted by ICCM at its first, second and third sessions. The older other language versions include only resolutions adopted by ICCM at its first session.New activities included in the Global Plan of ActionAt ICCM3 (17-21 September 2012), SAICM stakeholders agreed to the inclusion of new activities relating to the environmentally sound management of nanotechnologies and manufactured nanomaterials and hazardous substances within the life-cycle of electrical and

This novel publication provides an overview of the knowledge gap and enforcement challenges in the illegal trade of toxic, hazardous and severely restricted chemicals, as well as in non-existing or low areas of chemical regulations.Chemicals surround us in our daily lives providing benefit to people and society. However, chemicals can contaminate all components of ecosystems and are implicated in a range of acute and chronic health problems. Though a range of guidelines now govern the trade in chemicals, many remain

The present publication was produced as part of the project: "Gender and Chemicals - Together for a gender-just healthy planet", conducted by the MSP Institute in 2019.There is a number of gender aspects relevant to chemicals and chemicals and waste management. However, many of them are not receiving the attention they should in order to ensure the best possible decisions in policy-making and effective implementation.The goal of this report is to increase the integration of gender in international chemicals and

The present paper was produced as part of the project: "Gender and Chemicals: Issues, Stakeholders, Strategies", conducted by the MSP Institute in 2017. We reviewed relevant literature and international policy making processes, and conducted 20 expert interviews between May and October 2017.

The term nanomaterials refers to materials that have at least one dimension (height, width or length) that is smaller than 100 nanometres (10−7 metre), which is about the size of a virus particle. This particular size dimension represents a major characteristic of manufactured nanomaterials (MNMs). The unique properties of MNMs may result in highly desirable behaviour leading to such varying applications as better paints, better drugs and faster electronics. However, for the same reason, MNMs may also present health hazards