International Chemicals Management: Background Paper for the 7th Global Civil Society Forum

This briefing paper, prepared by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) in September 2005, provides background on international chemicals management for participants of the 7th Global Civil Society Forum. It details the challenges of global chemical regulation, the roles of various intergovernmental organizations and civil society networks, and the development of the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM).

• The global chemicals industry is valued at $1.6 trillion and produces tens of thousands of substances, yet governments often lack data on the toxicity, hazard characteristics, and exposure levels for the vast majority of these chemicals. In OECD countries, over 100,000 chemicals are registered for use.
• Many countries operate under a legal presumption that chemicals are "innocent until proven guilty," meaning regulators must prove a chemical poses an unacceptable risk before it can be controlled. This approach, combined with a lack of data, leaves populations vulnerable to long-term, low-dose exposures, particularly children and women of child-bearing age.
• The Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) is a non-binding, multi-stakeholder process designed to ensure that by 2020, chemicals are produced and used in ways that minimize significant adverse effects on human health and the environment. It consists of a High-level Declaration, an Overarching Policy Strategy, and a Global Plan of Action.
• Three primary UNEP-administered treaties form the core of global chemicals conventions: the Basel Convention (1989) on hazardous waste transboundary movements, the Rotterdam Convention (1998) on prior informed consent for hazardous chemicals in trade, and the Stockholm Convention (2001) which restricts persistent organic pollutants (POPs) known as the "dirty dozen."
• The European Union's REACH legislation aims to harmonize chemical treatment by requiring toxicity and exposure data for chemicals produced over certain amounts. The U.S. government and chemical industry have worked to undermine REACH, arguing that its use of the precautionary principle burdens industry and violates trade laws.
• Financial resources for chemical safety are insufficient, particularly for developing countries and economies in transition. While the Stockholm Convention provides mandatory funding via the GEF, the Basel and Rotterdam Conventions rely on voluntary funds. Some stakeholders have proposed a global or national levy on the chemicals industry to fund these systems.
• International chemicals management involves a wide array of stakeholders, including IGOs like UNEP, WHO, and the World Bank; NGO networks such as IPEN, the Basel Action Network (BAN), and the Pesticide Action Network (PAN); and industry representatives like the International Council of Chemicals Associations (ICCA) and CropLife International.

APA

Wiser, G. (2005). International Chemicals Management: Background Paper for the 7th Global Civil Society Forum. Center for International Environmental Law. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/ChemBackground_UNEP_7GCS_Forum.pdf

Chicago

Wiser, Glenn. International Chemicals Management: Background Paper for the 7th Global Civil Society Forum. Center for International Environmental Law, 2005. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/ChemBackground_UNEP_7GCS_Forum.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Wiser |first1=Glenn |title=International Chemicals Management: Background Paper for the 7th Global Civil Society Forum |publisher=Center for International Environmental Law |date=1 October 2005 |url=https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/ChemBackground_UNEP_7GCS_Forum.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{wiser2005international, author = {Wiser, Glenn}, title = {{International Chemicals Management: Background Paper for the 7th Global Civil Society Forum}}, institution = {Center for International Environmental Law}, year = {2005}, month = oct, url = {https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/ChemBackground_UNEP_7GCS_Forum.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }