Voluntary Initiatives

In February 2006, at the International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM) in Dubai, the chemical industry made a public commitment to enhance chemical safety throughout the value chain. Industry executives joined ministers and policy makers in discussions leading to the formal adoption of the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) by governments.  SAICM will provide the framework for future international chemicals management globally and will influence the direction of national regulatory systems up until 2020.

The Chemical Industry recognizes that achieving the objectives of the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) is essential to improve public confidence in the safe management of chemicals and to further promote the benefits of chemistry.

The Chemical Industry fully supports this global initiative and its objectives to:

• Bridge the gap in chemicals management between developed and developing countries;
• Continuously improve efficiency and effectiveness in global chemicals management;
• Build a new partnership approach towards chemical safety between producers, downstream users, governments and other stakeholders.

The set of chemical industry programmes and initiatives include the Responsible Care® Global Charter, the Global Product Strategy (GPS), the Long-range Research Initiative (LRI)and the SusChem platform.   The plans to implement these programmes and initiatives are ambitious. Yet the Chemical Industry strongly believes the sound management of chemicals is essential to meet our commitment to sustainable development.

These programmes and initiatives are managed by the International  Council of Chemical Associations (ICCA) and at the European level through Cefic and its network of companies and national associations.