Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety (IFCS) A unique, multi-sector mechanism to identify priorities, develop strategies, build partnerships and monitor progress for chemical safety

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Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety
(IFCS)A unique, multi-sector mechanism to
identify priorities, develop strategies, build
partnerships and monitor progress for chemical
safety
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Presentation Outline

• Brief introduction to chemical safety the
  chemical sector, benefits and risks of chemicals,
  international chemicals management
• What is IFCS?
• Why an IFCS?
• How does the IFCS work?
• IFCS recommendations
• IFCS achievements

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The Chemical Sector

• Estimated 100,000 manufactured chemicals
• Diverse sector, includes
• Basic chemicals (e.g. fuels and polymers)
• Specialty chemicals (e.g. adhesives, coatings,
  additives)
• Products derived from life sciences (e.g.
  pharmaceuticals)
• Agricultural chemicals (e.g. pesticides,
  fertilizers)
• Consumer care products (detergent, bleach,
  cosmetics)
• Accounts for 7 of global income and 9 of
  international trade (OECD, 2001)

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Outlook for the Chemical Sector

• According to the OECD Environmental Outlook for
  the Chemicals Industry (2001) the future of the
  industry looks very different than todayit is
  estimated that, in 2020
• global production will be 85 higher than in
  1995
• output in OECD countries will primarily be in
  specialty and life sciences chemicals
• non-OECD countries will lead in the production
  of high-volume basic (commodity) chemicals

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Benefits of Chemicals

• The use of chemicals is critical in many aspects
  of daily life, such as health care delivery,
  construction, transportation, and communications
• Examples include
• Medical equipment
• Vaccinations and medication
• Water disinfection
• Agricultural production and crop protection

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Risks of Chemicals

• When not properly managed, chemicals may present
  risks
• Examples include
• Exposure to certain toxic substances contributes
  to chronic disease (e.g. cancer and chronic
  respiratory disease, World Bank, 2002)
• Occupational exposure to hazardous substances
  estimated to cause some 340,000 deaths per year
  globally (ILO, 2002)
• Pesticide poisoning causes an annual worldwide
  incidence of 3 million cases of acute, severe
  poisoning, with some 220,000 deaths (WHO, 2002)

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Examples of chemical exposure
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International Chemicals Management

• direction provided by the 1992 United Nations
  Conference on Environment and Development
  (UNCED), in "Agenda 21"

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Establishment of IFCS

• established in response to request of
  governments at UNCED
• UN General Assembly endorsed the concept of a
  Forum on Chemical Safety
• 1st International Conference on Chemical Safety
  (Sweden, 1994) formally created the IFCS

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What is the IFCS?

• facilitates collaboration and partnerships
• develops policy guidance, strategies, and
  recommendations
• sets priorities for action in an inclusive
  manner
• monitors and reports on progress
• sets agenda for and stimulates research
• fosters understanding of chemical safety issues
• includes participation from all sectors relevant
  to chemical safety

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Why an IFCS?

• IFCS responds to the need for
• a multi-sector forum dedicated specifically to
  chemical safety
• increased coordination and cooperation
• an open and inclusive venue for discussion and
  consensus-building
• a mechanism for countries and organizations to
  directly express their needs and concerns

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How Does the IFCS Work?
Officers President Vice-Presidents (5)
Forum Standing Committee (FSC)
National Focal Points
FORUM SESSIONS Participants
IGOs (non-voting)
National Goverments (voting rights)
NGOs (non-voting) Enviromental
Public Interest, Industry, Labour, Scientific
Secretariat
Regional Groups
Ad Hoc Working groups
WHO administering organisation
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How does the IFCS work?

• Forum sessions
• open to national governments, IGOs and NGOs
• purpose
• discuss and develop guidance on chemical safety
  issues
• agree on priorities for research and action
• monitor progress

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How does the IFCS work?

• Forum Standing Committee
• 25 participants representing all regions, NGOs,
  and IOMC organizations
• advise on preparations for Forum meetings
• monitor progress on Forum recommendations
• serve as conduit for constituent views

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How does the IFCS work?

• IFCS President
• promotes the IFCS and its recommendations
  globally
• chairs IFCS and Forum Standing Committee
  meetings
• guides Forum activities between sessions

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How does the IFCS work?

• Vice Presidents and Regional Groups
• Vice-Presidents promote IFCS, convene regional
  meetings, and facilitate regional input to Forum
• regional groups develop regional plans,
  recommendations, and monitor progress

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How does the IFCS work?

• National Focal Points
• each government should have a single National
  Focal Point
• responsible for
• promoting IFCS activities
• providing national input into IFCS
  recommendations
• reporting on national progress

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How does the IFCS work?

• Ad Hoc working groups
• established by the Forum or Forum Standing
  Committee to undertake specific tasks, e.g.
  preparation of documents for forum sessions
• open to all IFCS participants

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IFCS Recommendations

• Bahia Declaration
• developed at Forum III, held in 2000, in Brazil
• participants statement to reaffirm commitment
• to the goals for chemical safety set in Agenda 21

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IFCS Recommendations

• IFCS "Priorities for Action Beyond 2000"
• international assessment of chemical risks
• harmonizing classification and labelling of
  chemicals
• exchanging information on toxic chemicals and
• chemical risks
• establishing risk reduction programs
• strengthening national capabilities and
  capacities
• for the management of chemicals
• preventing illegal international traffic in
  toxic and dangerous products
• Forum recommendations are not obligatory, but
  they are taken as authoritative commitments by
  governments and organizations

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IFCS Recommendations

• Forum IV Chemical Safety in a Vulnerable World
• Forum participants called on governments and
  organizations to
• take action on children's health and chemical
  safety
• improve measures to protect workers and
  consumers from chemical risks
• make available practical information on
  hazardous chemicals

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IFCS Recommendations

• FIV recommendations also address
• acutely toxic pesticides
• addressing the "widening gap"
• integrating chemical safety issues into the
  development agenda
• illegal international traffic in toxic and
  dangerous products
• For detailed information regarding IFCS
  recommendations, please visit
• www.ifcs.ch

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• Forum V agreed action items and recommendations
• Resolution on the Future of the IFCS
• Topics for the future Forum of IFCS
• Applying Precaution in the Context of Chemical
  Safety
• Heavy Metals need for further global action?
• The Budapest Statement on Mercury, Lead and
  Cadmium
• Toys and Chemical Safety
• http//www.who.int/ifcs/forums/five/en/index.html

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Key IFCS Achievements

• Since 1994, the IFCS has
• developed a coherent approach to chemicals
  management
• strengthened regional and inter-sector
  cooperation
• enabled constructive dialogue between
  governments, industry, NGOs, and IGOs
• heightened awareness about chemical safety
  issues
• facilitated the development and implementation
  of key chemical safety agreements
• built a process for monitoring progress,
  ensuring a level of accountability

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Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety
(IFCS)www.ifcs.ch