From September 28 to October 2, 2015 the Fourth International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM4) took place in Geneva, Switzerland. ICCM is the governing body of the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM), which is a voluntary policy framework to promote global chemical safety and to achieve by 2020 that “chemicals are produced and used in ways that minimize significant adverse impacts on human health and the environment.” ICCM4 was the last decision-making meeting in the context of SAICM scheduled to take place before 2020. The conference evaluated regional and sectoral implementation of the 2020 goals, addressed emerging policy issues, and discussed chemicals management in the context of SAICM and beyond 2020. The conference included a high-level segment on “Commitment to a chemical-safe future for health, environment and economic growth” on October 1-2 with key note speakers and panelists from the United Nations (UN), industry, national ministries, non-governmental organizations, and health professionals. Commitment for action was declared for highly hazardous pesticides, international chemicals management beyond 2020, information about chemicals in products, hazardous chemicals in electronics, lead in paint, nanotechnology, pharmaceutical pollutants, and endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Regarding EDCs, the meeting participants, except for chemical manufacturers, agreed on a resolution stating that
1) EDCs can harm human health and wildlife,
2) the most critical window of EDC exposure is during development,
3) early-life EDC exposure can lead to adverse health outcomes later in life and efforts must be made to reduce exposure,
4) there is a “cost of inaction” regarding EDC exposure,
5) continued actions on EDCs by all stakeholders are required to achieve the SAICM goals, and
6) the WHO-UNEP 2012 State of the Science report on EDCs is authoritative and should be used by governments.
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UNEP (October 2, 2015). “Governments, intergovernmental organizations, industry and civil society join forces for a chemical-safe world by 2020.”
IPEN (October 2, 2015). “IPEN press release: World conference re-commits to action on toxic chemicals, but lets funding for most impacted countries expire.”
IISD (2015). “Summary highlights for ICCM4.”
HEAL (October 16, 2015). “HEAL at fourth International Conference on Chemicals Management.”
Endocrine News (September 2015). “Breaking: Society statement on EDCs at ICCM4.”
Endocrine News (October 2015). “Endocrine Society influences EDC policy around the world.”
Chemical Watch (September 30, 2015). “ICCA says EDC safe exposure levels should be accepted.”
