The fourth session of the Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety (Forum IV) took place from 1-7 November 2003, at the United Nations Conference Center in Bangkok, Thailand.

Forum IV took stock of the progress achieved on the commitments and recommendations since its last meeting in 2000, focusing on topics relating to: children and chemical safety; occupational safety and health; capacity building; hazard data generation and availability; acutely toxic pesticides; the widening gap among countries in following chemical safety policies; and input to the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management. Delegates also considered and agreed on decisions on the globally harmonized system for the classification and labeling of chemicals, and on illegal traffic.
In response to decisions SS.VII/3 and 22/4 IV of the UNEP Governing Council, Forum IV discussed the further development of a strategic approach to international chemicals management (SAICM), and presented the outcome of its deliberations to the first session of the Preparatory Committee for the further development of a SAICM, which took place immediately following Forum IV. The Earth Negotiations Bulletin coverage of this meeting is available at: http://enb.iisd.org/chemical/ifcs4/