Sustainlabour at the International Conference on Chemical Management

Sustainlabour actively participated as part of the Trade Union Delegation at the second session of the International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM2 – SAICM) which took place in Geneva from the 11th to the 15th May. SAICM is a non-legally binding United Nations process which aims at ensuring that, by the year 2020, chemicals are produced and used in ways that minimize significant adverse impacts on the environment and human health.
Questions about the actions to undertake on emerging issues such as chemicals in products, lead in paints, electronic waste, nanotechnology and nanomaterials were part of the discussion. Also basic questions on rules of procedure and how to monitor the progress in achieving the goals were part of the agenda.
Although progress in some areas was observed, there was important disappointment on others as for example the outcomes on nanotechnologies which did not success to adequately address occupational health and safety issues.