Overview

Assessing and diagnosing the existing infrastructure for the sound management of chemicals is an important step towards building national capacity in a systematic way. Through its National Profile Support Programme, UNITAR provides guidance, training, and technical support to assist countries in assessing their relevant legal, institutional, administrative, and technical infrastructures. At the country level, all ministries concerned with chemicals management, as well as industry and public interest groups, should be involved in the National Profile preparation process. By August 2006, over 100 countries, including several OECD Member States, have prepared or are preparing a National Profile following the UNITAR/IOMC National Profile Guidance Document. At the international level, National Profiles provide others with a better understanding of the existing capabilities of countries, as well as their needs.

National Profile Homepage

The National Profile Homepage provides direct access to National Profiles which have been made internationally available by countries.

National Profile Programme Supports SAICM Implementation

The development of a National Profile has been recognized in the outcomes of the International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM) as a key enabling activity to support SAICM implementation (see "Policy Recommendations"). UNITAR is currently updating the National Profile Guidance document and the National Profile Homepage reflect the outcomes of ICCM. Countries are encouraged to update their National Profiles (or, if one does not exist, to develop their National Profile) with these outcomes in mind. Please check here regularly for updates on the revision of the guidance.

For countries that wish to obtain financial and technical assistance to update or develop their National Profile, please click here for more information.

National Profile Development and Priority Setting Projects

During 2004-2006, UNITAR facilitated projects in 17 countries to develop/update a National Profile, organise a National Priority Setting Workshop, and develop a National Chemical Safety Web Portal. Countries participating in the project included: Albania, Algeria, Belarus, Burundi, Congo, Costa Rica, Democratic Republic of Congo, El Salvador, Guinea-Bissau, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Panama, São Tomé and Principé, South Africa, Suriname, and Thailand (click on a country name to visit its national chemical safety webportal). The project was supported by the European Union and the Government of Switzerland.

In addition, more than 30 countries are to be supported by UNITAR through the SAICM Quick Start Programme Trust Fund to Update National Profiles, Development a National SAICM Capacity Assessment, and Hold a National SAICM Priority-Setting Workshop. For more information please click here.

UNITAR Assistance on Preparing a National Profile as part of GEF-supported National Implementation Plan for the Stockholm Convention

UNITAR also assists countries with National Profile development/updating as part of their Stockholm Convention National Implementation Plan development process, funded by the Global Environment Facility. For more information, please click here.