ABSTRACT
International chemicals management has emerged as an important thematic area within the increasingly complex global environmental governance regime. A milestone in this process was the adoption of the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) at the žrst International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM) in 2006. The Conference was cohosted by a number of international bodies representing a wide and diverse range of constituencies. Yet, it was the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) that had initiated and led the process to develop SAICM through Decision SS.VII/3 of February 15, 2002, subsequently endorsed by the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in 2002† (see also Section IV, Chapter 17 of this book).
