Environment news (February 01, 2006)

Leading miners commit to chemicals management

The International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) (www.icmm.com) has voiced its support to the United Nations Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM).

In a Feb. 6 statement, ICMM committed to developing an action program for chemicals management in the mining and metals sector by July 2007, in support of the overall objective of SAICM taking into account the 2020 timeframe.

Safe management of chemicals is a shared responsibility involving all actors along the life cycle of a chemical. ICMM supports risk-based approaches to chemicals management and the use of sound science to understand issues and provide effective solutions.

This proactive approach to chemicals management is based on ICMM’s Sustainable Development Framework. Among other things, it requires members to improve understanding of the properties of metals and minerals and their life-cycle effects on human health and the environment, and to facilitate and encourage responsible product design, use, re-use, recycling and disposal.

For more information contact Ben Peachey at tel. +44 (0) 20 7290 4942.