Central to the modern economy, chemicals are traded widely across borders and are used in the production of thousands of different products, from pharmaceuticals to computer microchips.

The International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM) is an inter-governmental ministerial that convenes UN member delegates and stakeholders for discussions on chemicals management. Adopted by the International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM) in 2006, the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) is a policy framework aimed to foster the safe and sound management of chemicals.

In December, Helen Medina, USCIB’s senior director for product policy and innovation, attended the Second Open-Ended Working Group of ICCM in Geneva to represent American business interests in the lead-up to the next ICCM ministerial, scheduled to take place in late September 2015.

Approximately 335 delegates attended the working group, representing 105 governments, five UN agencies, 12 intergovernmental organizations, and 38 non-governmental and industry organizations. At the meeting USCIB shared its concerns about SAICM’s Chemicals in Products program (CiP), a voluntary initiative designed to give guidance on how to share relevant information on chemicals in products along the supply chain and throughout their life cycle. Industry representatives argued that elements of the CiP draft text were too prescriptive, and that efforts should be made to make the document more attractive to business.

USCIB will continue to monitor work on SAICM and provide regular updates to members. Medina will attend the fourth International Conference on Chemicals Management in September 2015.