Resolution V/7: Development of guidelines for national focal points
The Conference,
Recalling that the final report of the independent evaluation of the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management from 2006 to 2015 [1] noted several factors that constrained national focal points’ ability to fulfil their role, and that one element highlighted was the fact that little guidance was provided to national focal points in fulfilling their functions,
Recognizing the gap in guidance for national focal points, and recalling that the African region, at the second session of the Conference, in 2009, proposed a set of guidelines [2] for national focal points in order to strengthen and prioritize national chemical and waste management capacities,
Noting that the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management Global Plan of Action (table B) [3] provided detailed activities and indicators for national focal points, without providing for guidance or capacity-building,
Appreciating the important role of national focal points in the success of the process to prepare recommendations regarding the Strategic Approach and sound management of chemicals and waste beyond 2020 (Beyond 2020 process), as noted by the Bureau of the fifth session of the International Conference on Chemicals Management at its eighth meeting, in January 2020,
Recognizing the opportunity for integrating the role of national focal points with the roles of regional focal points and focal points of non-governmental and intergovernmental organizations,
Emphasizing the key role that national focal points will play in the implementation of the Global Framework on Chemicals – For a Planet Free of Harm from Chemicals and Waste,
1. Requests the secretariat to develop draft guidelines for consideration at the next session of the Conference;
2. Invites all stakeholders, including national focal points, and the relevant participating organizations of the Inter-Organization Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals to provide input on the draft guidelines;
3. Encourages the inclusion in the draft guidelines of guidance on how to build the capacity of national focal points, as well as on how national focal points can promote multisectoral collaboration and cooperation, coordinate such collaboration, and promote risk communication and awareness-raising.
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[1] SAICM/ICCM.5/INF/1.
[2] SAICM/ICCM.2/15, annex IV.
[3] Available at New SAICM Text with ICCM resolutions_E.pdf. (The Global Plan of Action starts on p. 26; table B is on p. 33.)