The Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) was established as a policy framework to foster the sound management of chemicals in order to achieve the goal agreed at the 2002 Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development. The goal is that, by the year 2020, chemicals be produced and used in ways that minimize significant adverse impacts on the environment and human health.

In May delegates representing the part-taking governments, industries and NGOs convened at the 2nd International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM2) to review progress in the implementation of SAICM.

At the SAICM event on Information on Chemicals in Products, ChemSec was represented in the panel and gave a presentation on the challenge of companies trying to gather information on the chemicals in the products and materials they use. The SIN List was discussed as a tool to facilitate the gathering of information and informed decision-making on high concern chemicals.

The SAICM initiative is of great importance to reach overarching information-systems, which are vital in order to ensure upstream phase-out of toxic material.