Background document on Chemical Southern perspective

This background paper provides contextual information for participants in the Seventh Global Civil Society Forum convened in advance of deliberations on international chemicals governance under the auspices of the United Nations Environment Programme. It outlines the global scale of chemical production and use, emphasizing gaps in information, regulatory capacity, and infrastructure, particularly in developing countries and countries with economies in transition. The document traces the development of the Strategic Approach for International Chemicals Management, describing its objectives, negotiation history, and three-part structure consisting of a high-level declaration, an overarching policy strategy, and a global plan of action.