Hosted by the IOMC, 22-23 June 2025, immediately preceding the GFC OEWG.
At the fifth International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM 5), held in September 2023 in Bonn, Germany, delegates from around the world representing governments, industry and civil society adopted a new Global Framework on Chemicals: For a Planet Free of Harm from Chemicals and Waste” (GFC). The GFC includes 5 Strategic Objectives and 28 Targets, in particular Strategic Objective A that: “Legal frameworks, institutional mechanisms and capacities are in place to support and achieve the safe and sustainable management of chemicals throughout their life cycle”.
In response to a call from ICCM-5 to develop an Implementation Programme to strengthen national systems and capacities, the IOMC is pleased to announce a multi-stakeholder workshop immediately preceding the GFC OEWG in Punta del Este, Uruguay on Sunday 22 and Monday 23 June (morning) 2025. Of particular relevance to the workshop topic is GFC Target A1 which states that “By 2030, Governments have adopted and are implementing and enforcing legal frameworks, and have established appropriate institutional capacity to prevent or, where prevention is not feasible, minimize adverse effects from chemicals and waste as appropriate for their national circumstances”.
Workshop objectives and format
This multi-stakeholder workshop aims to inform the development of a Global Framework on Chemicals (GFC) Implementation Programme focused on strengthening national chemicals legislation and institutional capacities. Specifically, the workshop will:
The workshop will involve two components:
- an expert meeting on day 1 (Sunday 22 June), and
- a larger workshop on day 2 (the morning of Monday 23 June)
The expert meeting component will involve approximately 100 invited participants, taking account of regional and stakeholder balance. Due to resource constraints, additional participation will not be possible. The outcomes of the expert meeting will be reported to Day 2 of the workshop.
The larger workshop component on day 2 will focus on shaping the mandate, TORs, workplan, and other aspects of the implementation programme. It will take place at the OEWG conference venue and be open to a larger audience. Outcomes of the workshop will be communicated to the OEWG later in the week.
Participants invited to the expert meeting on Sunday 22 June will be informed by the workshop organizers. Plenary sessions of the expert meeting will be livestreamed; however, please note that break out sessions will not be streamed.
Participation at the Monday morning (23 June) workshop will be open to all registered participants of the GFC OEWG. You will need to have your GFC OEWG badge before gaining access to the workshop. Therefore, please arrive in advance and with enough time to register and get your badge at the conference centre so that the workshop can start promptly at 8:30am.
Livestreaming of plenary sessions, Sunday 22 June
Plenary sessions of the Sunday 22 June expert meeting will be livestreamed; however, please note that break-out sessions will not be streamed.
Those who wish to watch the streamed sessions of the expert meeting must register using this link: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/NhYeHoHKSyi9rtMmenV3Sg
After registering, they will receive a confirmation email with information on how to join. Hybrid or virtual participation will not be possible (only viewing).
There will be no virtual participation or livestreaming on the Monday, 23 June.
Photos:
Participants at Strengthening National Chemicals Legislation and Institutional Capacities - 22 June 2025. Credit: IOMC/Jonathan Krueger.
Round table meeting at Strengthening National Chemicals Legislation and Institutional Capacities - 22 June 2025. Credit: IOMC/Jonathan Krueger.