Heavy metal hazards under examination at International Chemicals Forum
The Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety (IFCS) will meet for its fifth session in Budapest from 25th - 29th September to discuss issues related to chemicals safety and sustainable development.
Subjects on the agenda include the environmental and health risks associated with chemicals, the precautionary principle, and the safety of chemicals present in toys. The forum will also examine the future role of the IFCS in relation to the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) - the new global strategy agreed by ministers from more than 140 countries in February 2006.
The forum will be preceded by a side event organised by Switzerland on 23rd September, also focussing on heavy metals.
Promoting chemical safety around the world
The Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety was set up to promote the safe use of chemicals around the world on the basis of recommendations issued in the UN Agenda 21 declaration in 1992. The IFCS is an international advisory body run through multilateral co-operation. Its members include countries; international, national and regional organisations; industrial groups; consumer protection organisations, labour protection organisations, scientific bodies and other stakeholders. The IFCS Secretariat works in close co-operation with the World Health Organisation in Geneva.
The forum's previous meeting was held in Bangkok in 2003.
For more information:Pirkko Kivelä, Counsellor, Finnish Ministry of the Environment, Tel. +358 50 362 2041. Hannu Braunschweiler, Senior Inspector, Finnish Ministry of the Environment, Tel. + 358 400 143 906.