Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM), was adopted by a consensus of Environment Ministers, Health Ministers and other delegates from more than one hundred governments participating in the International Conference on Chemicals Managment (ICCM) on 6 February 2006 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The conference was organized by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).

A framework for global action

The purpose SAICM is to provide an overarching framework for global action on chemical hazards and enable governments and other stakeholders to collaborate more effectively on reducing toxic risks. It is not a binding convention but rather intended as an instrument to achieve the goal agreed at the 2002 Johannesburg World Summit: by the year 2020, chemicals are produced and used in ways that minimize significant adverse impacts on the environment and human health. SAICM provides an opportunity to help build and strengthen a global civil society movement aimed at preventing further harm to human health and to ecosystems caused by exposure to chemicals and other toxic substances.

At the heart of SAICM

• The Dubai Declaration, which expresses the commitment to SAICM by Ministers, heads of delegation and representatives of civil society and the private sector.
• The Overarching Policy Strategy, which sets out the scope of SAICM, the needs it addresses and objectives for risk reduction, knowledge and information, governance, capacity-building and technical cooperation and illegal international traffic, as well as underlying principles and financial and institutional arrangements. The ICCM (International Conference on Chemicals Management) adopted the Overarching Policy Strategy which together with the Dubai Declaration constitutes a firm commitment to SAICM and its implementation.
• A Global Plan of Action, which sets out proposed "work areas and activities" for implementation of the Strategic Approach. The ICCM recommended the use and further development of the Global Plan of Action as a working tool and guidance document.

In May 2209 the second International Conference on Chemicals Managment (ICCM2) took place in Geneva, Switzerland. At ICCM2 the SAICM implementation so far was evaluated. Following issues were discussed: emerging policy issues (nanotechnology, chemicals in articles, lead in paint and electronic waste), consider long-term financing of SAICM, take strategic decisions on the future direction of SAICM, determine future reporting arrangements, finalize certain outstanding institutional matters, exchange scientific and technical information and decide the budget and activities for the next inter-sessional period.

Need for capacity building

The national implementation of SAICM has now started and there is a need for capacity building, especially in the Global South. NGOs in the Global South and countries with economies in transition will have a key role in pushing for national implementation plans and monitoring progress to ensure that plans are being followed.

ChemSec, as a European NGO, has an important role to play to influence the EU to contribute to the so called Quick-start programme (i.e. capacity building for developing countries). ChemSec is also collaborating with the IPEN network to make sure that the strategy is implemented and action taken as intended.