Envisioning a Toxics-Free Future

'IPEN envisages a time when all chemicals are produced and used in ways that eliminate significant adverse effects on human health and the environment, and where they longer pollute our local and global environments, and no longer contaminate our communities, our food, our bodies, and most importantly, the bodies of our children and future generations.'

To achieve this we committed to the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM). In 2006, in Dubai, Environment Ministers, Health Ministers and other delegates from over 100 governments together with representatives of civil society and the private sector declared that "the environment worldwide continues to suffer from air, water and land contamination, impairing the health and welfare of millions."

It was acknowledged that 'fundamental changes are needed in the way that societies manage chemicals'.

The participants adopted the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM), a global plan of action whose stated goal is: "to achieve the sound management of chemicals throughout their life cycle so that, by 2020, chemicals are used and produced in ways that lead to the minimization of significant adverse effects on human health and the environment."

The participating organizations of the IPEN committed to work for the 2020 goal but also envisaged a world "where persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and chemicals of equivalent concern no longer pollute our local and global environments, and no longer contaminate our communities, our food, our bodies, or the bodies of our children and future generations."

We call upon all government and stakeholders to work together to reform chemicals assessment and management, laws, policies and practices to achieve a Toxics-Free Future by 2020 in all countries.