Integrated Chemical Safety and Security Programme in Ukraine Takes Off

In a 2-day meeting held in Vienna on 24-25 February 2015, stakeholders in the new Integrated Chemical Safety and Security Program (ICSSP) in Ukraine agreed to proceed with operationalizing this ground-breaking initiative, based on decisions taken in a national workshop held in Kiev in December. An important part of the ICSSP will be to assist with the implementation of UNSCR 1540 (2004) in the chemical domain.

The stakeholders also agreed that the International Centre for Safety and Security (ICCSS) will act as an umbrella for developing and implementing component projects of the ICSSP to enhance chemical safety and security and environmental protection, with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) providing overall program support. 

 

The meeting participants included representatives of the Ukrainian Government, Ukraine Chemists Union, UN Office for Disarmament Affairs, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, ICCSS, and the OSCE, which hosted the meeting at its Vienna headquarters.  The ICCSS and Ukraine Chemists Union are the program leaders, with ICCSS acting as international coordinator.

 

The first stage of the ICSSP will be to undertake a thorough review of existing Ukrainian legislation, administrative regulations and practices in broad areas of the peaceful uses of chemistry and of environmental protection. The ICCSS will meanwhile begin developing two major projects: one to train border, customs and transportation officials in Ukraine to ensure the safe and secure transit and transport of toxic chemicals; and a second to raise local awareness and responsibility in chemical safety and security, with an emphasis on training relevant local authorities.