The Inter-Organization Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals (IOMC)

Organizational description | 23 July 2009

The IOMC brings together nine international organizations actively involved in chemical safety.

The objective of the IOMC is to strengthen international cooperation in the field of chemicals and to increase the effectiveness of the organisations’ international chemicals programmes. It promotes coordination of policies and activities, pursued jointly or separately, to achieve the sound management of chemicals in relation to human health and the environment.

The IOMC Vision Statement
The Inter-Organization Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals (IOMC) is the pre-eminent mechanism for initiating, facilitating and coordinating international action to achieve the WSSD 2020 goal for sound management of chemicals.

The IOMC consists of the following eight Participating Organizations:

  • FAO, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (based in Rome)
  • ILO, the International Labour Organization (SafeWork, based in Geneva)
  • OECD, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (based in Paris)
  • UNEP, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP Chemicals, based in Geneva)
  • UNIDO, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (based in Vienna)
  • UNITAR, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (GHS, based in Geneva)
  • WHO, the World Health Organization (IPCS, based in Geneva, unit:IPCS)
  • World Bank (based in Washington)

In addition, one Observer Organization also participates in the IOMC:

  • UNDP, the United Nations Development Programme (Environment and Energy, based in New York)

Key resources