One of the functions of the International Conference on Chemicals Management set out in paragraph 24 of the Overarching Policy Strategy of the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) is “to focus attention and call for appropriate action on emerging policy issues as they arise and to forge consensus on priorities for cooperative action.”  

Paragraphs 14 (g) and 15 (g) of the Overarching Policy Strategy call, respectively, for new and emerging issues of global concern to be sufficiently addressed by means of appropriate mechanisms, and for an acceleration of the pace of scientific research on identifying and assessing the effects of chemicals on human beings and the environment, including emerging issues.

Before its second session, the Conference had not yet defined the term “emerging policy issue”, but it was understood by stakeholders an issue involving the production, distribution and use of chemicals, which has not yet been generally recognized or sufficiently addressed, but which may have had significant adverse effects on human beings and/or the environment.

Following consultation with the informal “Friends of the Secretariat” planning group, which comprised regional focal points and representatives of Governments, non-governmental and intergovernmental organizations, the secretariat prepared a short questionnaire as a means for Strategic Approach stakeholders to propose “emerging issues” for consideration by the Conference at its second session.  The questionnaire was brought to the attention of Strategic Approach stakeholders by email, by discussion at appropriate regional meetings, and by publication on the Strategic Approach website.  Submissions were received from 21 stakeholders. 

A compilation of the submissions received from stakeholders to the questionnaire on emerging policy issues was considered by stakeholders at informal discussions held in Rome on 23 and 24 October 2008, in preparation for the second session of the Conference. An overview and summary of the issues raised in the submissions was also taken into account 

The Rome meeting decided that the next step was be for the secretariat to screen the nominated emerging policy issues in a transparent manner and select emerging policy issues that might be prioritized for detailed consideration at the second session of the Conference. To facilitate consultation, the the secretariat worked with the Friends of the Secretariat on this task.

The secretariat completed an initial screening of submissions received on emerging policy issues and prepared a list of the issues, annotating each one according to available information on each agreed screening criteria. The issues were grouped so that related submissions might be considered together.

Two teleconferences were held in order for the Friends to review the annotated information for completeness and to assist in identifying those nominated issues that could be prepared for detailed consideration at the second session of the Conference.

Records of the teleconferences held on the 27 November and 12 December 2008 are provided below together with the list of annotated submissions received.

On the basis of this additional preparatory work, the Friends of the Secretariat agreed to recommend to the secretariat four emerging policy issues for detailed consideration at the second session of the Conference.  These four emerging policy issues were  “chemicals in products;” “nanotechnology and manufactured nanomaterials,” “electronic waste,” and “lead in paints”.  In addition to the information on each of the agreed selection criteria it was taken into account that these issues each reflected an emerging policy issue which had not yet addressed internationally, an issue about which the global chemicals community was not fully aware and/or issues of particular and immediate concern for developing countries.

Opportunities for considering other nominated emerging policy issues at the second session of the Conference were also identified and it was recommended that the submission “Health-sector – prevention of chemicals-related adverse-health impacts” be included for discussion in a planned high-level round table to be held during the Conference.  It was also recommended that a side event be planned for further information sharing on perfluorinated chemicals.

A further teleconference of the Friends of the Secretariat was held on 14 January 2009 to discuss the preparation of informative background papers and possible proposed collaborative actions on each of the above four issues, which the second session of the Conference would be requested to consider.

An open consultative process for preparing conference documents was coordinated by the secretariat. In each case a facilitator was requested to lead the work Contact details for the facilitators of the work on each issue,  The preparation of Conference documents included a number of   and details of the opportunities for providing comment on the draft documents which were made available through this website.

On the day before the commencement of the second session of the Conference, a half-day technical briefing was organized to provide an opportunity for delegates to discuss each of the emerging issues and the preparatory work processes.  Copies of the technical briefing presentations are available on this website. Over 250 participants attended this briefing session.  Further discussion of the emerging policy issues took place in the context of the Conference’s side event programme.