UNDP, Vietnam cooperate in chemicals management
(VOV) - The Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) project in Vietnam was launched in Hanoi on October 31.
At the launch ceremony, Head of the Chemical Agency (CA) Phung Ha said the project will help minimise the impact of chemicals on human health and the environment.
The project was funded by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) with more than US$400,000 over two years.
A UNDP representative said that Vietnam’s chemicals sector contributes about 10 percent to industrial production value and generates jobs for around 10 percent of the industrial labour force.
However, it also causes significant effects on human health and the environment. Several ministries, including the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry and Science and Technology have some involvement in chemical management, ranging from production, transport and handling to containment and waste management..
Therefore, it is necessary to establish coordination mechanisms and united methods to safely manage chemicals through the SAICM project.
SAICM is a policy framework to foster the sound management of chemicals, which was adopted at the International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM) in February 2006 in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates. To date, more than 171 countries have taken part in SAICM.