20 March 2019: The Secretariat of the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) has released an interim report outlining progress in the implementation of the Overall Orientation and Guidance for achieving the 2020 goal on sound management of chemicals. The report was issued ahead of the third meeting of the Open-ended Working Group (OEWG-3) of the International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM).

The document (SAICM/OEWG.3/INF/5) explains that the Overall Orientation and Guidance was endorsed as a voluntary tool by an ICCM4 resolution.

The interim report provides an update of basic elements at the national and regional level that are critical to the sound management of chemicals and waste in the overall orientation and guidance. The basic elements include: legal and institutional frameworks, implementation and enforcement; stakeholder participation and sectoral engagement; knowledge and information, risk assessment/reduction and monitoring; and political leadership, outreach, education and promotion.

OEWG-3 is expected to provide guidance to the Secretariat in preaparing the report on progress in the implementation of the Overall Orientation and Guidance for achieving the 2020 goal to be presented to ICCM5 in 2020.

The Secretariat invites stakeholders to provide comments on the interim report in the context of “celebrating” SAICM achievements in 2020 and in setting out baseline information on chemicals and waste beyond 2020. The deadline for submitting comments is 31 May 2019. [Interim Report on Progress in the Implementation of the Overall Orientation and Guidance for Achieving the 2020 Goal of Sound Management of Chemicals] [OEWG-3 Website]