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Chemical contamination has
traditionally been tackled by way of emission
controls, but control over chemical substances
is often a more effective approach. Both
methods are in use today depending on
circumstances and substances involved.
The
Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety (IFCS) is
a mechanism for cooperation among governments for
promoting the environmentally sound management of
chemicals. Among other things, the IFCS
identifies priorities of action by governments and
international organisations.
At the Third Session of the
Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety (FORUM
III), ( Brazil, 2000), the meeting reached agreement on the IFCS Priorities
for Action Beyond 2000 and issued the Bahia
Declaration on Chemical Safety.
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There are many possible approaches to improving
the safe management of chemicals at both the
national and regional levels. Chemical risks
are frequently reduced or managed through
bans, use restrictions, classification and
labeling schemes, contaminated-land policies,
environmental liability legislation, civil
actions, and other strategies. Increasingly,
European policy-makers are moving towards an
approach that relies more on co-operation and
incentives rather than on
"command-and-control" regulations. This is
based on new perceptions about what is
important in chemical pollution.
(European
Environment Agency).
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