Hanoi, Vietnam from 8 to 9 October 2024
Highlights: The Technical Workshop on Chemicals in Plastics, held on 8–9 October 2024 in Hanoi, Viet Nam, convened policymakers and technical experts from across the South and Southeast Asian sub-region to deepen their understanding of chemicals in plastics and their effects on human health and the environment. The workshop aimed to strengthen the science-policy interface and promote science-based decision-making in support of the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm (BRS) Conventions.
The two-day workshop featured expert presentations, discussions, and interactive sessions on chemicals in plastics, their environmental and health impacts, and regulatory approaches. On the first day, the BRS Secretariat and experts led discussions on lessons from Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs), emphasizing existing frameworks outlined in the publication ‘Addressing chemicals of concern in plastics through Multilateral Environmental Agreements’ and presenting findings from the POPs Review Committee’s report on identifying POPs in products, articles, stockpiles, and waste. The afternoon sessions included insights on food contact plastics and health impacts from the Food Packaging Forum Foundation, the PlastChem State-of-the-Science report, and updates from UNEP on its ongoing work related to chemicals in plastics.
The second day focused on enhancing transparency and traceability of chemicals in plastics, plastic waste management, and recycling challenges. Experts from the region shared regional perspectives, while the International Council of Chemical Associations (ICCA) presented its efforts to improve chemical transparency and traceability, including the Plastic Additives Database. Additionally, the International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN) emphasized the importance of transparency in protecting human health, followed by regional stakeholders sharing their insights. The workshop concluded with roundtable discussions, reinforcing the need for continued collaboration across the South and Southeast Asian sub-region.
The workshop was organized back-to-back with a one-day national workshop in Viet Nam, titled "Technical Meeting: Stockholm Convention Industrial Chemicals," held on 7 October 2024.
Organizer: This workshop was organized by the Secretariat of the BRS Conventions, with the support of the Ministerio del Medio Ambiente (MMA) Chile and the Basel Convention Coordinating Centre and Stockholm Convention Regional Centre for Latin America and the Caribbean in Uruguay, thanks to financial support from the European Union and the Government of Norway.
Working Language: English
Meeting objectives: The objectives of the two-day workshop were the following:
- Strengthen the science-policy interface to support informed decision-making and enhance awareness for the effective implementation of the BRS Conventions;
- Improve chemical transparency and traceability by discussing globally harmonized approaches, regulatory mechanisms, supply chain communication, and the identification of priority chemicals and chemicals of concern in plastics;
- Foster regional collaboration and capacity-building by facilitating knowledge exchange among policymakers and technical experts in South and Southeast Asian sub-region, contributing to global efforts to address plastic pollution.
Target audience: Official contact points, national focal points, designated national authorities from the South and Southeast Asian sub-region.