United States Welcomes the Chemicals Management Declaration and Strategy Issued in Dubai

The negotiators concluded: 1) a High-Level Declaration, also known as the "Dubai Declaration," which notes that SAICM is a voluntary initiative for promoting the science-based management of chemicals; and 2) an Overarching Policy Strategy that outlines SAICM’s objectives and its scope, which covers agricultural and industrial chemicals throughout their life-cycle, but explicitly excludes products such as food additives and pharmaceuticals that are regulated by a domestic food or pharmaceutical authority, such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Participants also developed a list of potential activities, known as the "Global Plan of Action," that could be voluntarily considered as they strive to meet the objective of sound chemicals management.

As a purely voluntary initiative, SAICM does not in any way affect the interpretation or application of rights and obligations that governments have undertaken in international fora such as the World Trade Organization, or through binding international agreements such as the Montreal Protocol. There were attempts during the negotiations to have SAICM influence other international instruments, as well as to expand upon decades-old internationally agreed texts, such as the Rio Declaration, but those attempts were unsuccessful. SAICM merely builds upon already agreed approaches to chemicals management and science-based risk assessment, but importantly seeks to build the capacity of developing countries and economies in transition to safely manage chemicals.

The United States welcomes the conclusion of discussions on SAICM and looks forward to participating in its development, working in partnership with participants, and providing technical assistance to countries in need. As Assistant Secretary of State Claudia McMurray said, "SAICM presents the international community, and particularly developing countries, with a roadmap for achieving the science-based management of domestic chemicals issues. It is a flexible framework that allows countries managing the risks associated with some chemicals to tailor approaches to their individual needs. SAICM recognizes that while we all share the goal of minimizing the risks presented by some chemicals, there are many valid ways to achieve that goal."