Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management – SAICM

The Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) was adopted in 2006 as a policy framework to promote chemical safety around the world. Chemicals production is one of the major and most globalized sectors of the world economy. Acknowledgement of the essential economic role of chemicals and their contribution to improved living standards must be balanced with recognition of potential costs. These include the chemical industry’s heavy use of water and energy, and the potential adverse impacts of chemicals on the environment and human health.

SAICM contains an ambitious goal to achieve the sound management of chemicals throughout their life cycle so that chemicals are produced and used in ways that minimize significant adverse impacts on the environment and human health. SAICM’s objectives are grouped together under five themes: risk reduction; knowledge and information; governance; capacity-building and technical cooperation; and illegal international traffic.