6 February 2006: A “strategic approach to international chemicals management” (SAICM) has been agreed at an intergovernmental meeting in Dubai.

The voluntary approach, which provides a framework for chemicals management, supports the goal agreed at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002 of minimizing the adverse effects of chemicals use and production on human health and the environment by 2020.

The agreement was reached during the International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM), held from 4-6 February 2006. The conference followed a series of lengthy negotiations held over the past two years. The final agreement includes a high-level declaration from participants, an overarching policy strategy (OPS) and global plan of action (GPA). [IISD RS Coverage]