ABSTRACT
Introduction ............................................................................................................ 329 An International Forum for National Chemicals Managers................................... 330 IFCS and Chapter 19 of Agenda 21 ....................................................................... 331 IFCS Terms of Reference ....................................................................................... 332 NGO Involvement .................................................................................................. 332 Forum Meetings and Bodies .................................................................................. 333 IFCS and the Global Treaty on Persistent Organic Pollutants ............................... 334 Full Forum Meetings from 1994 through 2003 ..................................................... 335
Forum I .............................................................................................................. 335 Forum II ............................................................................................................ 335 Forum III ........................................................................................................... 336 Forum IV ........................................................................................................... 337
IFCS and the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management ........................................................................................................... 337 IFCS Forum V ........................................................................................................ 339 IFCS Forum VI ......................................................................................................340 The Future of IFCS ................................................................................................ 341
Conference as did numerous representatives from intergovernmental organizations, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and chemical industry trade associations.*
The formal mandate of IFCS is to serve as a Forum where government representatives and stakeholders can consider issues relating to the environmentally sound management of chemicals and can provide advice and recommendations. According to its founding documents,† IFCS is neither an organization nor a program, but rather, it is a “noninstitutional arrangement.” IFCS was set up to provide advice and recommendations. Although it is not empowered to play any explicit role in implementation, IFCS does evaluate and review progress.
