Global Trends in Chemical Substance Management and OECC’s Activities In 2002, the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) was held in Johannesburg and the summit adopted the WSSD goal, “aiming to achieve, by 2020, that chemicals are used and produced in ways that lead to the minimization of significant adverse effects on human health and the environment”. Also adopted was the UNEP’s “the Strategic Approach on International Chemical Management (SAICM),” which aims to realize the WSSD goal. Many countries, both the developed and developing, have been promoting activities to achieve the goal. The global trends in chemical substance management have shifted from hazard-based approach to risk-based approach, where not only the hazardous properties but also exposure risks are considered, as can be seen in Japanese CSCL: the Chemical Substance Control Law and EU REACH regulation. As another global trend in chemical substance management, the concept of lifecycle management has been introduced, which aims to manage the risks of chemical substances’ adverse effect to health and environment throughout the lifecycle stages of manufacturing, consumption, use, supplying chain, waste treatment, etc.. In these global trends, each nation implement measures to achieve the WSSD goal by enforcing laws and regulations in chemical substance management as deemed appropriate by each nation. OECC holds seminars to share the latest trends on international chemical substance management by inviting overseas administrative officers as guest speakers. OECC also publishes the latest information on chemical management laws and regulations abroad, to assist timely response to the changing global trend […]