UNEP's Action to Meet the Challenge of Illegal Trade in Chemicals

Illegal international trade in “environmentally-sensitive” commodities such as ozone depleting substances (ODSs), toxic chemicals, hazardous wastes and endangered species is an international problem with serious consequences: it directly threatens human health and the environment, contributes to species loss, and results in revenue loss for governments. In particular, illegal trade in chemicals has been highlighted in the SAICM process as a severe threat to MEA enforcement and to sustainable development. There are opportunities for international solutions and cooperation on these topics and UNEP aims at facilitating those initiatives. This brochure presents UNEP DTIE’s work to combat illegal tarde in chemicals, with some concrete examples.