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United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) was established in 1972. Within UNEP, the Chemicals unit is the focus for all activities to ensure the global sound management of hazardous chemicals and to protect human health and the environment from impacts of toxic chemicals.

This is achieved by:

  • Jointly with Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), providing the secretariat for the Rotterdam Convention and supporting implementation of the prior informed consent procedure
  • Providing the secretariat for the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
  • Taking measures to help governments assess and address risks from toxic chemicals
  • Promoting the world-wide exchange of information on toxic chemicals
  • Providing training and capacity building to countries in the sound management of chemicals

    • UNEP also provides the secretariat for the Basel Convention on hazardous wastes.

    Contact information

    Ms Jacqueline Alvarez
    Chief
    Chemicals and Health Branch
    Industry and Economy Division
    UNEP
    11–13 chemin des Anémones
    CH-1219 Châtelaine, Geneva
    Switzerland

    Email: jacqueline.alvarez@un.org

    UNEP UNEP website