Sustainable Development and the Importance of the Sound Management of Chemicals in the 21st Century

摘要

The issue of sound management of chemicals is being addressed by a complex regime of international agreements and programs, is cross-sectoral in nature, and affects some sectors where it may not, at first, be obvious. Implementing measures for the sound management of chemicals is an important issue that should be addressed in sustainable development plans, and is an important element in many other issues. Many countries have fallen behind in implementing measures for the sound management of chemicals, but the gap is greatest in developing countries and looks certain to grow without a substantial increase in development funding and capacity building. I believe the development and implementation of SAICM will raise the visibility and priority of this issue, clarify the needs of countries, and lead to significant improvements in chemicals safety in all countries.