Delegates from more than 100 countries agreed to pass on to the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) the formulation of a strategic management plan for the more than 70,000 chemical products existing in global markets. The agreement, “Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management,” is not binding like the chemicals-related UN Conventions of Rotterdam, Stockholm and Basil. But unlike those treaties, which oversee the use and transport of some but not all substances, the new pact will encompass all chemicals.

It was achieved “after arduous negotiations”, and now will become a concrete program, UNEP director for Latin America and the Caribbean, Ricardo Sánchez, told Tierramérica.

The governments committed to define this plan — which will include training for developing countries, evaluation of risks, and monitoring — at the global conference on chemical products management held in United Arab Emirates earlier this month.