Ms. Khalida Bouzar, UNEP

UNEP works to protect humans and the environment from adverse effects caused by chemicals throughout their lifecycle, and hazardous waste. It is the focal point of UNEP activities on chemical issues and the main catalytic force in the UN system for concerted global action on the environmentally sound management of hazardous chemicals. UNEP's chemicals program reflects global priorities identified by governments. It works directly with countries to build national capacity for the clean production, use and disposal of chemicals, and promotes and disseminates state-of-the-art information on chemical safety.

While chemicals are a major contributor to national economies, their sound management throughout their lifecycle is essential not only to avoid significant risks to human health and ecosystems along with their associated economic costs, but also to maximize the full benefits of their contribution to human well being.

The continued growth pattern of global production, trade and use of chemicals exerts an increasing chemicals management burden on the developing countries and countries with economies in transition that often have the least capacities to deal with such complex challenges. By 2020, developing countries are expected to lead the world in growth rate for high volume industrial chemicals, increasing their share of world chemicals production to 31%. Chemicals consumption in developing countries is likewise growing much faster than in developed countries and could account for a third of global consumption by 2020.

Over the past decade, the global community has brought critical chemicals related environmental problems to the forefront of the international policy agenda. Particular attention has been drawn to the widening gap among developed countries, developing countries and countries with economies in transition with regard to capacities to manage chemical-related risks. Key international instruments and processes have been agreed upon to address these concerns.

Despite these efforts, there are still significant challenges in implementing and enforcing effective instruments and processes for sound management of chemicals. These include the insufficient use of market based mechanisms; inadequate legal and technical capacity; lack of access to affordable and safer technologies and alternatives; the need to prioritize and integrate chemicals strategies and policies into national development plans; and the lack of national coordinating frameworks to implement international agreements and processes.

While OECD continues to assist its member states in their efforts to reduce risks posed by chemicals production and use, the changes in the industry now require a more global approach. Complementary to OECD’s efforts, there is a need to consider the situation of chemicals policies in developing countries and countries with economies in transition, in particular with regard to their most vulnerable groups such as infants and children, women, workers and the elderly.

In this context and to help address this persistent set of challenges, my opening statement at HCF 2010 will review and describe the changes and trends affecting developing countries and emerging economies along with their potential related economic, environment and health impacts and discuss the need to provide a convincing set of arguments for a revitalized commitment to the sound management of chemicals.

The Panel, which will be comprised of representatives from authorities and academia from developing countries and emerging economies and will look at some initiatives taken so far, as well as discuss policies by which all actors can contribute to updated information for decision-making on concerted international action for the sound management of chemicals.