September 2008
Since its first session in 1994, the Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety (IFCS) has been a unique, over-arching mechanism to develop and promote chemical safety strategies and partnerships among national governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations. The Fifth Session of IFCS (Forum V) was hosted by the Government of Hungary and held 25-29 September 2006 in Budapest. In light of the adoption of the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) by the International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM) in February 2006, Forum V considered the future role of IFCS, including the invitation by the ICCM to the Forum:
to continue its important role in providing an open, transparent and inclusive forum for discussing issues of common interest and also new and emerging issues, and to continue to contribute through this to the implementation of the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management and the work of other chemicals-related international organizations and institutions.
Recognizing the desirability of continuing to have such a forum, Forum V adopted a resolution on the future of IFCS. The resolution established a working group to prepare a draft decision on the future role and functions of IFCS for consideration at Forum VI. Based on the recommendations of the working group, Forum VI shall, if it so decides, propose a draft decision for possible consideration by the ICCM.
CIEL, as a member of the Working Group on the Future of IFCS, agreed to serve on a small drafting group charged with preparing a background paper that might serve as the basis for the draft decision. In this capacity, CIEL drafted the background paper, in consultation with other drafting group members and taking into account comments from members of the Working Group as a whole. The background paper identifies and elaborates three options:
Option 1: modify IFCS as a distinct/independent institutional arrangement that avoids duplication, enhances synergies, and saves costs;
Option 2: integrate IFCS into ICCM by designating part of each ICCM meeting as a session of the Forum; and
Option 3: integrate IFCS into ICCM by making IFCS an ICCM subsidiary body.
The Working Group on the Future of IFCS met in Bangkok, Thailand, 28-29 February 2008, to finalize the background paper and prepare the draft resolution on the future of IFCS that Forum VI will consider. In Bangkok, CIEL continued to serve as lead drafter by developing text responding to proposals of Working Group members; facilitating understanding, compromise, and consensus; and editing the background paper into a final form that the Working Group ultimately adopted. Then, on the basis of the background paper, CIEL prepared a draft Resolution on the Future of IFCS that was considered and debated by the Working Group, and a final version of the draft Resolution that was adopted by the Working Group on 29 February.
The background paper and draft Resolution, entitled “Forum VI – Future of IFCS: Draft Decision Document,” will be considered by Forum VI in Dakar this September 2008. It may be found here or on the IFCS website, as document IFCS/FORUM-VI/05w, at http://www.who.int/entity/ifcs/documents/forums/forum6/f6_05w.en.doc.
Updated September 2008: CIEL applauds adoption of Dakar resolution on the future of the Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety (IFCS).