1. Introduction 1.1 Background At a global scale evidence is mounting that many chemicals used in the electronics sector have negative consequences for human and environmental health. Typical electronic waste handling practices in developing countries are detrimental to the health of workers, their environment, and their communities. There are well-documented problems associated also with formal recycling in modern facilities, and the production phase is often problematic as well. In addition, it is becoming apparent that recycling of valuable materials must be made more efficient as the prices of virgin materials, metals, and minerals increase and their availability decreases. All of these problems are exacerbated by the fact that there has been a rapid increase in sales of electronics products in the past several years, making e-waste one of the fastest growing waste stream today. To address the problems associated with exposure to chemical substances, the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management, SAICM, was adopted at the first International Conference on Chemicals Management, ICCM1, in February 2006. The overall objective of this international framework is to “achieve the sound management of chemicals throughout their life cycles so that, by 2020, chemicals are used and produced in ways that lead to the minimization of significant adverse effects on human health and the environment.”1 The second International Conference on Chemicals Management, ICCM2, was held in May 2009. It was agreed to initiate a project on Chemicals in Products, CiP, to promote the implementation of Objective 15 (b) of the SAICM Overarching Policy Strategy. This objective states that information on chemicals throughout their life cycle, including, where appropriate, chemicals in products, should be available, accessible, user friendly, adequate and appropriate to the needs of all stakeholders.2 UNEP was invited to lead and facilitate the CiP project and to report on the project implementation and its outcomes to the SAICM OpenEnded Working Group in mid 2011 and to ICCM3 in mid 2012. Further, it was agreed that the project should:
────────────────────────── 1 UNEP 2006. Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management -SAICM texts and resolutions of the International on Chemicals Management. p.14 2 UNEP 2006 p. 16