North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation Sound Management of Chemicals Working Group and Stakeholders Tucson, Arizona, March 4 – 7, 2008 Executive Director’s Overview

North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation (NAAEC) Canada, Mexico, United States parallel agreement to Free Trade Agreement both signed simultaneously in 1994 Commission for Environmental Cooperation created to better protect our shared environment trinational response to “trade versus environment”

Strategic Plan Connect the Strategic Plan of –Puebla priorities of Information for decision making Capacity building Trade and Environment with the proposed Strategic Plan for SMOC program integrating with the overall Strategic plan through –Strategies for Catalyzing Cooperation

Vision for the Future The Parties and CEC, together, working to provide a model of 21st-century sustainable, economic development on a global basis. POTENTIAL MECHANISMS –enhance the region's natural capital –improve the regional actions of our governments –increase competitiveness of small and medium-size businesses through cleaner production –address solutions to support indigenous communities –build on North-South cooperation The Sound Management of Chemicals program with the expertise of the SMOC Working Group and its stakeholders will continue to be an integral part of the CEC’s success.

The Chemicals program Three National Environment Ministers Commission for Environmental Cooperation Joint Public Advisory Committee Trade and Environment Biodiversity Hazardous Waste and Enforcement SEM Unit PRTR, Air Quality NA Atlas, SoE Communications Chemicals Program Sound Management of Chemicals NARAPs Monitoring and Assessing Pollutants Across NA SCC ImplementationNew Directions

The Legacy of the CEC’s SMOC Program Provides validated information to help make appropriate decisions –Emphasising sustained infrastructure Opens door for establishing and maintaining regional centers of excellence –Inter/intra laboratory validation and certification –Scientific credibility –Appeals to outside funding Case study for other regional/global initiatives –OECD, SAICM, GRULAC –GLBTS, Le Paz, NEG/ECP

Vision and Direction for SMOC Initiative Fully support the development of strategies for cooperation Focus on benefits for Small and Medium size enterprises Aggressively tackle emerging chemicals of concern Develop linkages for understanding life-cycle approaches Strong foundation of information through capacity building Expert’s participation and commitment critical to success Understand and coordinate with global directions Improve North America’s environment and competitiveness through Sound Management of Chemicals

1.Reduce the risk from chemicals of concern 2.Develop and implement a sustainable approach to monitoring 3.Improve environmental performance of sectors, consider chemical clusters 4.Establish a foundation for chemicals management Path Forward Four Concept Areas

Muchas Gracias Merci Thank you Felipe Adrián Vázquez-Gálvez