Introduction

UNITAR’s Chemicals and Waste Management Programme supports capacity building in developing and transition countries to protect human health and the environment from toxic chemicals and wastes. It is linked to the 2020 goal to achieve the sound management of chemicals as adopted at the World Summit for Sustainable Development (WSSD) in South Africa in 2002. Equally important, the Programme contributes to the implementation of International Chemicals Management Agreements, including the Stockholm Convention, the Rotterdam Convention and the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM).

Since 1996, UNITAR has been a member of the Inter-Organization Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals (IOMC)-–a collaborative agreement among UNEP, WHO, ILO, FAO, UNIDO, UNITAR and OECD. Other strategic partners include the Secretariats of the Basel Convention and the Chemical Weapons Convention. Core donors have included Switzerland, the United States, The Netherlands, the European Commission, Canada, UNDP, UNEP, and GEF. In 2006-2007 the Programme is expected to support some 80 countries around the world.

Integrated and Programmatic Approaches for National SAICM Implementation and Sound Chemicals Management

Participants in the SAICM process recommended in 2005 that countries consider “implementation of integrated national programmes for the sound management of chemicals….” UNITAR assists interested countries to achieve this objective by providing support for National Chemicals Management Profile development, National Priority Setting Workshops, Skills Building/Training for Action Plan Development, and development of an Integrated National Chemicals Management Programme.

The Government of Switzerland is supporting a four-year pilot phase from 2006-2009 linked to national SAICM implementation. Activities focus on governance, public-private partnerships, and strengthening the role of civil society in SAICM implementation and sound chemicals management. Participating countries are Belarus, Pakistan, Panama and Tanzania.

Specialized Training and Capacity Building

UNITAR also provides assistance to countries in specific areas of chemicals management. They include:

• Implementation of the Globally Harmonized System for Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) - with ILO

• Persistent Organic Pollutants, including planning and implementation support for the Stockholm Convention –with UNDP, UNEP, UNIDO and GEF

• Establishment of Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers (PRTRs) – with UNEP and UNECE

• Risk management decision-making for priority chemicals – with UNEP

• Planning and implementation support for the Rotterdam Convention – with FAO/UNEP

International Activities, Support Services and Resources

In support of the above projects, UNITAR, inter alia, organizes thematic workshops on priority topics for national chemicals management capacity building, operates a Virtual Classroom to support PRTR implementation, and disseminates CD-ROM Capacity Building Libraries for GHS and PRTRs.