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The potential key role of SAICM National Focal Points in Reducing Harm from Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs): Factsheet 2022

What Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) National Focal Points need to know and do about highly hazardous pesticides.

Year of publication 2022

Place of publication Rome, Italy ;

Pages 12p.

Author SAICM; UCT; UBA; ​FAO;

Publisher SAICM ; UCT ; UBA ; FAO ;

Product type Brochure, flyer, fact-sheet

Synopsis (short abstract) Pesticides are substances or mixtures used for the management of pests to protect humans, plants, crops, animals or materials. Highly hazardous pesticides (HHPs) are a special group of pesticides that need to be handled differently than other pesticides because of their proven high toxicity or listing on an international convention. Risks from exposures to pesticides are usually managed with a series of risk reduction measures including policies, signage (e.g., in sprayed fields), labelling, product formulation and type of equipment, and the wearing of personal protective equipment. But HHPs are too dangerous for the usual risk reduction measures to work, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This factsheet provides HHP-related information for the National Focal Points of the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM), as well as advice and suggestions on how to involve all relevant stakeholders (see section 5) to move towards a phase-out of HHPs and to implement more sustainable alternatives. In 2015, SAICM’s Fourth International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM4) adopted a resolution that recognizes HHPs as an issue of concern and called for concerted action to address HHPs. SAICM National Focal Points, therefore, play a key role in ensuring that information about HHP’s reaches all relevant stakeholders for effective and informed decision-making to reduce risks.

Language English

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