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ICCA International Council of Chemical Associations

The Chemical Industry’s Perspective on SAICM

Sabine Klages-BuechnerDuPont de NemoursGeneva – June 2006

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• Value of SAICM and its national implementation

• Lessons learned from past processes

• Expectations of the chemical industry

• Potential major constraints

• The contribution of the chemical industry

Outline

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• Roadmap for improving the sound management of chemicals

• Bridging the gap between developed and developing countries in chemicals management – building new partnerships along the supply chain amongst all stakeholders

• Improving/enhancing cooperation and coordination at national/regional government level and amongst intergovernmental organizations

• Building on existing expertise to ensure safety in processes and in chemicals use and handling

Value of SAICM and its national

implementation

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Lessons learned from Past Processes

• Active stakeholder engagement enhances– Deployment of broader variety of expertise– Buy-in– Building of trust

• Gaps still large • Need to listen• Need for building trust into each other• Need for great(er) coordination

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Expectations of the Chemical Industry

• Continuance of an open, transparent and inclusive multi-stakeholder and multi-sectoral process at international, regional and national level

• Partnership approach towards chemical safety

• Bridging the gap in chemicals management between developed and developing countries

• Close cooperation between intergovernmental organizations and ALL stakeholders

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Expectations of the Chemical Industry – Cont’d

• Improvement of public confidence in the safe management and use of chemicals globally

• Decision making to be risk-based, consistently applied, practical, timely and transparent, and takes account of stakeholders needs

• Promotion of sustainable development for all of our societies through the benefits of soundly managed chemicals and innovative products with a high socio-economic value

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Potential Major Constraints

• Uncoordinated and/or unfocussed approach• Duplication of efforts and programs• Programs resulting in structures that outpace

governments’ ability to implement and enforce

• Lack of outreach to all stakeholders• Lack of inclusion of all environmental,

economic, social, health and labor aspects

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The Contribution of the Chemical Industry

• Actively participate in the future SAICM process• Strengthen the cooperation with selected

Intergovernmental Organizations• Implement the Responsible Care® Global Charter

and the Global Product Strategy (GPS), aimed at the – Improvement of health, safety and environmental

performance of operations and products and the level of community involvement and awareness of the industry

– Promotion of responsible and ethical management of the health, safety and environmental aspects of a product throughout its life cycle

Through voluntary programs as key elements, such as the Long-Range Research Initiative (LRI) and the High Production Volume (HPV) program

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The Contribution of the Chemical Industry – Cont’d

• Support informed decision-making by providing the scientific data and understanding that are the foundation of good public policy decisions

• Promote capacity building within each of the ICCA Member Associations, including SMEs, in the field of health, safety and environmental protection

• Encourage and, where possible and appropriate, assist non-ICCA member countries and observers with capacity building activities

• Share best practices with governments and other stakeholders

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Questions?

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Thank You!