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The SAICM Secretariat, in partnership with the University of Cape Town, established a community of practice on Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs) to foster discussions, exchange of best practices, and recommendations to address HHPs amongst relevant stakeholders. This is a summary of the discussion on The role and importance of national and regional Highly Hazardous Pesticides strategies, which took place on 18 May 2022.Presenters: Fredrick Otieno (CEJAD), Mark Davis (FAO)The need for action on highly hazardous pesticides (HHPs) has received attention

Global cumulative plastic production is predicted to reach 34,000 million tonnes between 1950 and 2050.The harmful chemicals released from plastic products throughout their entire life cycle can pose a serious risk to humans and the environment, including when waste is not properly managed, finding its way to air, water and soils.While the preparations for the legally binding agreement on plastic pollution are ongoing, the plastic waste and chemicals in plastics are being discussed at the 2021/2022 meetings of the conferences

The eighth International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (ILPPW) was held on 25–31 October 2020, with more than 90 events in 60 countries organized by governments, civil society organizations, health partners, industry and other institutions.ILPPW is an ongoing initiative of the Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead Paint (the Lead Paint Alliance), led jointly by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and WHO. The aim of the Week is to raise awareness about the health effects of lead exposure, highlight the efforts

A side event took place on 14 June 2022, in the margins of the Conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions (BC COP-15, RC COP-10, SC COP-10). The side event was organized jointly by the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) Secretariat and the Inter-Organization Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals (IOMC).It contributed to the main theme of these meetings - Global Agreements for a Healthy Planet: Sound management of chemicals and waste.

Management of Pharmaceutical Household Waste: Limiting Environmental Impacts of Unused or Expired MedicinePharmaceutical household waste from expired or unused medicine does not only offer zero therapeutic benefit, but also contributes to environmental pollution when disposed of via improper routes. Medicines discarded in sinks and flushed down toilets enter sewage waters and, if not filtered out, leak into aquatic systems. Disposal of unused or expired medicines via solid household waste can also result in pharmaceutical residues entering the environment if this

Pharmaceutical Residues in Freshwater: Hazards and Policy ResponsesThis report calls for a better understanding of the effects of pharmaceutical residues in the environment, greater international collaboration and accountability distribution, and policy actions to prevent and remedy emerging concerns. Laboratory and field tests show traces of oral contraceptives causing the feminisation of fish and amphibians, and residues of psychiatric drugs altering fish behaviour. Antimicrobial resistance, linked to the overuse of antibiotics, has rapidly escalated into a global health crisis. Unless adequate

This report provides an overview of the current state of circularity in the electronics value chain in Africa, identifies key areas of concern, provides appropriate recommendations, and proposes priority actions to improve circularity of the sector.The recommendations focus on the individual life cycle stages of the electronics value chain, as well as on aspects that cut across the value chain. The transition towards a more circular electronics sector in Africa would require a holistic, coordinated approach bridging five key areas

The SAICM Secretariat, in partnership with the University of Cape Town, established a community of practice on Chemicals in Products to bring representatives from different sectors together and to create a learning network around issues related to addressing Chemicals in Products (CiP). This is a summary of the discussion on Traceability tools across supply chains, which took place on 12 May 2022.Presenters: Virginia Cram-Martos (UNECE), Lorenzo Zullo (Chemchain), Deborah Taylor (UNECE)With increasing pressure for environmental and social due diligence in

The State of Sustainability Research for Chemicals of Concern identifies the impacts of chemicals of concern within and for the manufacturing of ICT products on human health and the environment and illustrates the need to shift to safer, more sustainable substances in electronics. The research identifies strategies to reduce chemicals of concern through understanding the chemical used within products and processes, determining the health impacts of chemicals, preventing the use of known toxic chemicals, and identifying safer alternatives. Finally, this

The global production and consumption of Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) is growing rapidly and EEE has become indispensable in modern societies, enhancing living standards. Currently, the total weight of global EEE consumption (excluding photovoltaic panels) on average increases by 2.5 million metric tons annually. This increasing consumption and production leads to an increase in raw material extraction and accompanying pollution.The options for action proposed in this document are intended to inspire policymakers and to offer guidance on possible entry