22. Renew the commitment, as advanced in Agenda 21, to sound
management of chemicals throughout their life cycle and of hazardous wastes for
sustainable development and for the protection of human health and the
environment, inter alia, aiming to achieve by 2020 that chemicals are used and
produced in ways that lead to the minimization of significant adverse effects
on human health and the environment, using transparent science-based risk
assessment procedures and science-based risk management procedures, taking into
account the precautionary approach, as set out in principle 15 of the Rio
Declaration on Environment and Development, and support developing countries in
strengthening their capacity for the sound management of chemicals and
hazardous wastes by providing technical and financial assistance. This would
include actions at all levels to:
(a) Promote the ratification and implementation of relevant
international instruments on chemicals and hazardous waste, including the
Rotterdam Convention on Prior Informed Consent Procedures for Certain Hazardous
Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade so that it can enter into force
by 2003 and the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants so that
it can enter into force by 2004, and encourage and improve coordination as well
as supporting developing countries in their implementation;
(b) Further develop a strategic approach to international chemicals
management based on the Bahia Declaration and Priorities for Action beyond 2000
of the Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety (IFCS) by 2005, and urge that
the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), IFCS, other international
organizations dealing with chemical management, and other relevant
international organizations and actors closely cooperate in this regard, as
appropriate;
(c) [Agreed] Encourage countries to implement the new globally
harmonized system for the classification and labelling of chemicals as soon as
possible with a view to having the system fully operational by 2008;
(d) Encourage partnerships to promote activities aimed at enhancing
environmentally sound management of chemicals and hazardous wastes,
implementing multilateral environmental agreements, raising awareness of issues
relating to chemicals and hazardous waste, and encouraging the collection and
use of additional scientific data;
(e) Promote efforts to prevent international illegal trafficking of
hazardous chemicals and hazardous wastes and to prevent damage resulting from
the transboundary movement and disposal of hazardous wastes in a manner
consistent with obligations under relevant international instruments, such as
the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous
Wastes and Their Disposal;
(f) Encourage development of coherent and integrated information on
chemicals, such as through national pollutant release and transfer
registers;
(g) Promote reduction of the risks posed by heavy metals that are
harmful to human health and the environment, including through a review of
relevant studies, such as the UNEP global assessment of mercury and its
compounds.
62. Achieve sound management of chemicals, with particular focus on
hazardous chemicals and wastes, inter alia, through initiatives to assist
African countries in elaborating national chemical profiles, and regional and
national frameworks and strategies for chemical management and establishing
chemical focal points.
