Strategic Approach To International Chemicals Management

Abstract

The Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) is a non-binding policy framework for international action on chemical hazards, serving as an umbrella framework to give coherence to the existing international agreements and programmes on chemical safety. The SAICM comprises three core texts: the Dubai Declaration on International Chemicals Management, the Overarching Policy Strategy (OPS), and the Global Plan of Action (GPA). The origins of international management of chemicals can be traced back to the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (the 'Earth Summit'), which adopted, inter alia, the Rio Declaration, and Agenda 21. While the SAICM is not an organization, a structure of sorts has emerged to facilitate support to all stakeholders in order to effectively implement the objectives of the initiative. Keywords: chemical safety; Global Plan of Action (GPA); Overarching Policy Strategy (OPS); SAICM