Chemical industry committed to implement action plan on safe chemicals management in developing countries

Johannesburg, 30th August 2002 - Director Dr Udo Oels, Member of the Management Board of Bayer AG, will announce the commitment of the international chemical industry to develop and implement an action plan to improve safety in the handling and use of chemicals with focus on developing countries.

This will take place at a side event of the WSSD organised by the International Council of Chemical Associations (ICCA) on the afternoon of Friday 30th August in the Hilton Hotel Sandton, in the presence of the Honourable Rejoyce Mabudafhasi, Deputy Minister Environmental Affairs and Tourism, South Africa, Mr Henrique Cavalcanti President, IFCS and Mr Marcel Boisard, Executive Director of UNITAR and Assistant Director General of the United
Nations.

This global capacity building action plan for safe chemical management is being developed by the chemical industry at international and national level. In developing its international approach, the ICCA is consulting with international organisations, such as UNITAR, UNEP and IFCS as potential partners.

As part of its preparation for the Summit and as a basis of the action plan, the ICCA has undertaken national case studies in South Africa and Brazil in partnership with government and other groups. The findings of these pilot projects will assist in the development of a more detailed international plan. (For more detail see attached *Summary Section) Dr Oels says, “The global chemical industry is fully committed to improve chemical safety globally. The industry’s Responsible Care® initiative, which now has programmes in 47 countries, has been the foundation of the industry’s success in improving its environmental,health and safety performance.”

“Implementation of Responsible Care® has also resulted in upgrades in national EH&S standards particularly in developing countries. However, there are still many challenges ahead which we believe can only be achieved through close partnership between all committed stakeholders.”