SAICM Chemicals in Products Project

1. SAICM Chemicals in Products Project ICCM2 – May, 2009 Resolution to implement a project on Chemicals in Products By Olga Speranskaya, IPEN CoChair

2. UNEP is leading the CiP • The Conference agreed: • collect and review existing information on information systems pertaining to chemicals in products including but not limited to regulations, standards and industry practices; • assess that information in relation to the needs of all relevant stakeholders and identify gaps; • develop specific recommendations for actions to promote implementation of the SAICM with regard to such information, incorporating identified priorities and access and delivery mechanisms

3. CiP goal • to define what information stakeholders need to enable them to contribute their part of the life-cycle management of chemicals in products and articles and thus to minimize risks. • recommendations should provide a path forward beyond ICCM3 • suggest milestones for the cooperative actions.

4. CiP Steering Group • Ms. Petra Ekblom, Swedish Chemicals Agency • Mathias Kouassi (alternate for Astrid Télasco), Canada • Prof. Babajide I. Alo, University of Lagos, Nigeria • Magnus Bengtsson, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies; Japan • Ms. Irina Zastenskaya, Republican Scientific-Practical Centre of Hygiene, Belarus; • Ms. Carolyn Vickers, IOMC (Inter-Organization Program for the Sound Management of Chemicals)representative; • Ms. Veronica Monti, International Society of Doctors for the Environment, Argentina; • Michael Y. Gribble, Industry sector representative; • Ms. Olga Speranskaya, Public interest sector representative; • Agneta Sundén Byléhn and Kevin Munn, UNEP Chemicals Branch

5. Survey of SAICM Focal Points on the Need for Information on Chemicals in Products • CiP information systems in use or under development and the current state-of-the-art, including needs and gaps, in exchanging CiP information; • the CiP information needs of various stakeholders at different points in the lifecycle of a product; • priorities for CiP information on specific product groups or sectors. • 73 individuals were - contributors, as well as 60 distinct government agencies, NGOs and international organizations.

6. Product/Sector Priorities • Children’s products including toys • Food containers and food packaging • Computers, cellular phones and other electronic goods • Cosmetics and Personal Care Products

7. Type of Information Needed • Manufacturer name and contact information • Identification of chemicals in products • information for suppliers; • Precautions, information on safe use and storage of products • What to do in case of accident/exposure/injury; • Information and on how to safely dispose of products/type of waste; • Safe waste handling information; • Recycling, remanufacturing and reuse information.

8. Chemicals in products-case studies: building products; electronics; toys; textiles • Toys DEKRA Industrial GmbH http://www.dekra.com • Electronics Chemsec www.chemsec.org • Building products University of Tennessee – Knoxvillehttp://isse.utk.edu/ccp/ • Textiles United Nations Environment Programme Chemicals Branch,

9. INFORMATION NEEDS OF THE DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS • Product design • Production • Packaging • Distribution • Product use • Recycling and Disposal

10. ISSUES PROPOSED FOR CONSIDERATION DURINGELABORATION OF THE CASE STUDIES TOYS • Plastic, paint and wood • • Recycled plastics containing pollutants • • Producers (brand-owners) are lead-actors in the supply chains • • Supply chain structure different cases • o Brand owners who control their supply chains • o Companies that buy toys in fairs etc • • Producer-retailer interface likely to be crucial • • Consumers have limited interest in having detailed info – labels, issued by credible actor • • Plastics grades: technical/analytical. Toys grade • • Consider potential benefits to industry (partnerships), as well as benefits to other involved stakeholders • • Look to existing reporting systems (RAPEX) – consider as well the impact such information availability has had on the development of the legislative basis

11. ISSUES PROPOSED FOR CONSIDERATION DURINGELABORATION OF THE CASE STUDIES CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS: • Plastic and paints • • Indoor exposure (buildings where we spend most of our time) • • Demolition exposure – info management for long-lived products • • Schools and kindergartens, vulnerable groups • • New constructions • • Testing routines for new “alternative “ Materials

12. ISSUES PROPOSED FOR CONSIDERATION DURINGELABORATION OF THE CASE STUDIES Textile: • Toxics and allergens • • Exposure in retail, use, washing (environmental pollution of chemicals contained in the fibres), and burning of waste • • Information challenge similar to toys • • Pesticide residues and additives • • Testing for new material and additives including nanomaterials

13. ISSUES PROPOSED FOR CONSIDERATION DURINGELABORATION OF THE CASE STUDIES • Electronics (the life-cycles of personal computers and mobile phones): • End-of life treatment • • Inclusion of recycled materials (plastics as a raw material) • • Look to existing efforts

14. Chemicals in products-time schedule • October - background research and the surveys or questionnaires that will be used for the data-gathering from the stakeholders • November – face-to-face interviews • 15 November - advance drafts of four case studies • By 1 December - Draft final reports of the case studies are to be ready. • 9-10 December - The results of the case studies are to be considered at a Cross-sectoral Experts Meeting