The Inter-Organization Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals (IOMC) held its 63rd   meeting from 1-3 April 2025 at Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)headquarters in Rome, Italy. It was a hybrid meeting involving 13 participants  representing nine organizations Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions (BRS), FAO, International Labor Organization (ILO), Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Bank. 

Some of the key technical issues discussed were:

• Use of various social media platforms for information dissemination and developing an outreach document showcasing 30 years of IOMC achievements.
• The IOMC toolbox update to be completed in the next 3 months (July), with new resources developed, necessitating integration into proposals.
• In preparation of the open-ended working group (OEWG) in Uruguay, FAO will be presenting on the Global Alliance on Highly Hazardous Pesticides (GAHHPs) showing the practical work on HHPs
• The OECD suggests that the Participating Organizations (POs) should announce activities or projects in various countries to prevent duplication and promote collaboration for effectiveness in projects being implemented.

The main highlight of the event was the celebration of the 30th IOMC anniversary since its establishment in 1995. The IOMC Chair highlighted that in a time of great uncertainty for multilateralism and global cooperation, it is even more vital for international organizations to reaffirm their commitment to work together as achieved by the meeting in Rome.  The IOMC coordinates global action of 10 organizations to support the sound lifecycle management of chemicals and waste for healthy lives and the environment. As there is still much to be done, the IOMC looks forward to another 30 years and additional partners joining the Programme.

During the meeting items related to global processes to improve chemical safety, such as the Global Framework on Chemicals (GFC), and on-going support for countries, through the enhancement of sectoral and stakeholder engagement  were discussed. In relation to this, the FAO highlighted its key activities addressing HHPs together with other organizations in IOMC as follows:

• Facilitating the establishment of the Global Alliance on Highly Hazardous Pesticides (GAHHP) to phase out HHPs in agriculture and to promote alternatives. The proposed modality of the GAHHP has been developed by the task force, including experts from FAO, UNEP, WHO, and UNDP, and consultations with stakeholders will the organized.
• Developing regional strategies to combat Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs) in the Southern African Development Community and East African Community, aiming to improve agricultural productivity, environmental sustainability, and food safety while addressing concerns about HHP's impact on biodiversity and public health.
• The development of comprehensive national pesticide risk reduction strategies, focusing on integrated pest management, policy development, stakeholder capacity building, environmental impact monitoring, community engagement in education efforts, and biodiversity integration into agricultural policies.
• Supporting member countries in effectively managing HHPs through a structured approach which includes identification of HHPs, risk assessment, and mitigation measures, and providing resources such as technical guidelines, toolkits, and capacity-building initiatives.
• Promoting Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and biological control as effective strategies for mitigating risks associated with HHPs in over 60 countries worldwide.