ICCA joined industry representatives, government and international experts in Buenos Aires in April to mark Argentina’s recent UN Special program funding to ‘Strengthen the national capacity for the sound management of Chemicals and Waste’. The event was hosted by the Argentine Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development in cooperation with ICCA and the UN Environment program. It gathered over 250 stakeholders – including 11 different government agencies and over 75 industry representatives from along the supply chain.
Production and trade of chemicals has grown significantly in Argentina over the past three decades. The new funding is intended to develop policies and accelerate implementation of the Globally Harmonized System for Classification and Labelling and complements the long-standing implementation of the Responsible Care® program through local association CIQyP.
In the press release ICCA Council Secretary Marco Mensink highlighted the partnership between ICCA and UN Environment resulting in a range of joint activities. The kick-off meeting in Argentina is an illustration of the combined capacity-building efforts to support Responsible Care®, institutional strengthening and chemical control regulations, working with the national chemicals association and government representatives.
Jacob Duer, Chief, Chemicals and Health Branch, UN Environment program spoke of his organization’s pride in contributing to such an ambitious cooperation while Dr. Mike Witt, Corporate Director of EH&S and Sustainability at the Dow Chemical Company praised the collaborative, multi stakeholder approach. He also emphasized the SAICM goal of ensuring chemicals continue to be produced and used in ways that minimize significant adverse impacts on human health and the environment, not just in Argentina, but around the world.
Fuente: ICCA