21 March 2019: The International Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Elimination Network (IPEN) has published a brief titled, ‘IPEN Beyond 2020 Perspectives for OEWG3,’ calling for a new global agreement on chemical safety that includes both an upgrade of the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM), “SAICM2.0,” and an enabling framework “that acts as an umbrella for all chemicals-related agreements.”

IPEN, which is a global network of over 500 public interest non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working on issues relating to toxic chemicals, released the brief as part of its preparations for the third Meeting of the Open-ended Working Group (OEWG-3) of the International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM) will take place in Montevideo, Uruguay, from 2-4 April 2019.

SAICM2.0 should include adequate, predictable and sustainable financing that includes internalization of costs of chemical producing industries.

The brief highlights features for a new global agreement on chemical safety, which, according to IPEN, should include, among other elements: a broad scope that encompasses the entire lifecycle including wastes; endorsement of the enabling umbrella framework by a ministerial declaration in 2020 and its subsequent adoption by the UN General Assembly (UNGA); a sustainable and predictable finance mechanism; measurable contributions to the SDGs; and participatory and multi-sectoral approach.

IPEN emphasizes that the new enabling framework should respect the legal autonomy of all the agreements, and highlights several key features, including the need for: greater coherence among objectives, implementation and reporting; high-level political ownership; and full implementation of chemical safety contributions to the SDGs.

IPEN highlights adequate, predictable and sustainable financing that includes internalization of costs of chemical producing industries at the global level as one of the measures to strengthen SAICM. [IPEN Beyond 2020 Perspectives for OEWG3] [IPEN Announcement] [OEWG-3 Website]