Thirty-eight members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the EU, and five non-members adopted the Declaration on Supporting the Achievement of the Strategic Objectives and Targets of the Global Framework on Chemicals (GFC) – For a Planet Free of Harm from Chemicals and Waste. The Declaration outlines a shared position on how to support the GFC’s implementation.

The adherents emphasize their commitment to strengthen the sound management of chemicals throughout their life cycle in line with the vision, strategic objectives, and targets of the Global Framework on Chemicals. They stress the need to: set up and implement robust and comprehensive national chemical management systems; strengthen international and multisectoral cooperation, coordination, and collaboration; and improve the generation of knowledge, data, and information on chemicals.

The countries “strongly encourage industry stakeholders across global value chains to ensure safe and sustainable management of chemicals throughout their life-cycle by developing and implementing safer, innovative and sustainable solutions.”

They call on the OECD, through its Chemicals and Biotechnology Committee, to:

• Continue to contribute to meeting the GFC’s strategic objectives and targets, including by developing, supporting implementation of, and updating OECD standards and tools in the area of risk assessment and management of chemicals;
• Serve as a forum for collaboration on chemical safety policy through the exchange of information, experience, and capacity building;
• Aid in the development and act as a custodian of certain indicators in relation to chemicals management and support efforts to mainstream chemicals management and pollution prevention into other sectors and policies; and
• Pursue efforts to enhance actions and collaborate with other international organizations in the context of the Inter-Organization Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals (IOMC) to support the GFC’s implementation.

The Declaration was adopted on 3 May 2024, in the context of the OECD Council meeting at ministerial level.

The 38 OECD adherents to the Declaration are Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye, the UK, and the US. The five non-OECD adherents are Brazil, Bulgaria, Croatia, Peru, and Romania. [Publication: Declaration on Supporting the Achievement of the Strategic Objectives and Targets of the Global Framework on Chemicals – For a Planet Free of Harm from Chemicals and Waste]