Introducing the IOMC and relevant activities of UNITAR

International Meeting on Chemical Safety and Security

Tarnow, Poland

8-9 November 2012

Outline

What is the IOMC?

IOMC Decision-making Toolbox for Chemicals Management

UNITAR Chemicals and Waste Management Programme (CWM)

Relevant activities to OPCW and CWC

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What is the IOMC?

9 Inter-governmental Organizations (IGOs) working together

Established in 1995 to strengthen cooperation and increase coordination in the field of chemical safety

Participating Organizations:

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

International Labour Organization (ILO)

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)

United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR)

World Health Organization (WHO)

World Bank

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)

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Objectives of the IOMC 4

The IOMC Vision Statement

The Inter-Organization Programme for the Sound Management

of Chemicals (IOMC) is the pre-eminent mechanism

for initiating, facilitating and coordinating

international action to achieve the WSSD 2020 goal

for sound management of chemicals.

To achieve the sound management of chemicals in relation to human health and the environment

By strengthening international cooperation in the field of chemicals

By increasing the effectiveness of the programmes of the 9 organizations

By promoting coordination of policies and activities, pursued jointly or separately

IOMC Activities

Each organization undertakes the following capacity building related tasks (in its respective sector/field of expertise):

providing assistance where countries have identified a capacity gap

supporting the implementation of international agreements

providing support to the development of situation analyses and baseline reports

supporting national governments in the formulation and discussion of policies and related instruments

providing access to information

providing outreach and awareness raising for regional and international activities

providing technical assistance to countries to develop their overall national chemicals management infrastructure

assisting in the identification, development and transfer of (environmentally) sound technologies.

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Framework:

Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) - a policy framework to foster the sound management of chemicals

Adopted by the International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM) on 6 February 2006 in Dubai

developed by a multi-stakeholder and multi-sectoral Preparatory Committee

supports the goal agreed at the 2002 Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development of ensuring that:

by the year 2020, chemicals are produced and used in ways that minimize significant adverse impacts on the environment and human health

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IOMC Toolbox

IOMC Decision-making Toolbox for Chemicals Management

One stop shop on the web for countries wishing to set up or improve their chemicals management system to find answers to and ways of dealing with specific needs and objectives

iomctoolbox.oecd.org

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IOMC Toolbox Objectives

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5. Compendium of tools/guidance (e.g. POPs, PIC, GHS, PRTR, IPPC, Authorisation of pesticides, Risk management of industrial chemicals, Mutual Acceptance of Data, Customs control …)

4. Problem solving: What is the most cost effective solution for my country ?

1. SAICM Implementation plan, National chemicals profile, chemical risk assessment etc.

2. Problem identification and priority setting: What are the most important issues regarding chemicals management in my country ?

3. Resource Assessment

UNITAR

Founded in 1963 as an autonomous body within the United Nations system

a training arm of the United Nations System

Serves some 27,000 beneficiaries annually by conducting more than 400 capacity development and research activities around the world

Mission: to deliver innovative training and conduct research on knowledge systems to develop capacities of beneficiaries in the fields of Environment; Peace, Security and Diplomacy; and Governance

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UNITAR’s Chemicals and Waste Management (CWM) Programme

UNITAR CWM provides support to governments and stakeholders to strengthen their institutional, technical, and legal infrastructure and capacities for sound chemicals management

Activities take place in the framework of implementing international agreements such as the Basel, Stockholm, and Rotterdam Conventions, the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS), the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM)

Activities are aimed at protecting human health and the environment while ensuring sustainable development

UNITAR’s approach to capacity building supports a country-driven and integrated approach to chemicals management as endorsed by ICCM-1, held in Dubai in February 2006

It is linked to the 2020 goal to achieve sound management of chemicals as adopted by the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in 2002

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UNITAR supports countries in a wide range of chemical safety areas - these include:

National pilot projects/integrated national programmes - assisting countries to establish/strengthen a collaborative framework at the national level

National chemical management profiles - country assessments

Specialized training and capacity building - GHS, PRTR, Mercury, Nanotechnology

11 Relevant Activities to OPCW/CWC

Conclusions

Significant opportunities exist for expanding international cooperation for chemical safety and security

UNITAR ready to collaborate with OPCW and interested stakeholders to assist countries to improve chemical safety and security

IOMC also interested to learn more about possible opportunities and synergies

We look forward to further discussions!

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Thank you Chemicals and Waste

Management Programme

United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR)

Palais des Nations 1211 Geneva 10

Tel: +41 22 917 1234 Fax: +41 22 917 8047 Email: cwm@unitar.org