Chemicals and Health Branch, Economy Division of United Nations Environment Programme

The Chemicals and Health Branch of the United Nations Environment Programme works to minimize the adverse effects of chemicals and waste on human health and the environment. It is the focal point of UNEP activities on chemicals issues and the main catalytic force in the UN system for concerted global action on the environmentally sound management of hazardous chemicals. More

Areas of cooperation between the Secretariat and UNEP Chemicals and Health Branch are, among others:

  • The Secretariat and UNEP Chemicals and Health Branch jointly implement with WHO the Global Human Milk Survey to generate human biomonitoring data on POPs within the framework of the Stockholm Convention's Global Monitoring Plan.
  • The Secretariat participates in the following UNEP Chemicals and Health Branch-led activities:
    • The PCB Elimination Network (PEN), within the framework of the Stockholm and Basel conventions. The PEN is a collaborative framework to enhance information exchange among stakeholders from different sectors to promote the environmentally sound management of PCBs. UNEP Chemicals and Health Branch took over the administration and implementation of the PEN in 2012, upon the invitation of the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention (decision SC-5/7).
    • The Global Alliance for Alternatives to DDT, within the framework of the Stockholm Convention. The Global Alliance is a global partnership aiming at promoting the development and deployment of alternative products, methods and strategies to DDT for disease vector control. UNEP Chemicals and Health Branch took over the administration and implementation of the DDT Global Alliance in 2012, upon the invitation of the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention (decision SC-5/6).

Other areas of collaboration with UNEP Chemicals and Health Branch can be found on the Synergies website.

Cooperation with the Chemicals and Health Branch also takes place under the joint task force on programmatic cooperation among the Chemicals and Health Branch and the secretariats of the BRS Conventions, the Minamata Convention and SAICM which was established in 2014 and reinvigorated in 2018 with updated terms of reference.