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Press release 25 September 2008

Helsinki Chemicals Forum puts sustainability and consumer concerns on the agenda

Helsinki Chemicals Forum has announced the programme for its first event, which will take place from May 27th–29th 2009 at the Helsinki Exhibition and Convention Centre. This multi-stakeholder forum will deal with four themes: competitiveness and innovation, chemical industry regulation, safety and sustainability and chemistry and consumer relations.

New approaches are needed for overcoming the challenges facing the environment and the daily lives of people worldwide. The field of chemistry plays a significant role in the search for sustainable solutions, which is why Helsinki Chemicals Forum is inviting academic researchers, politicians, non-governmental bodies, human interest groups and industry globally for an open dialogue with true impact.

“We believe that together we can make a change and create better life for people. For the first time we will bring together all stakeholders, who otherwise work individually. New technologies, processes, products and regulations alone will not be enough – we need them all if sustainable development is to succeed,” says Kyösti Sysiö, Secretary General of HCF.

Four important themes

The Helsinki Chemicals Forum agenda will deal with the critical issues facing the participants in their respective positions as chemistry and chemical industry stakeholders. The Helsinki Chemicals Forum agenda will consist of four themes: Chemical Industry Regulation, Competitiveness and Innovation, Safety and Sustainability and Chemistry and Consumer Relations.

“Four themes will be covered, with presentations and panel discussions by industry experts and global opinion-leaders. Besides the official programme, the event will also be a neutral networking platform offering all-important contacts to stakeholders. The discussion and cooperation will continue as a virtual forum between the annual meetings and the Helsinki Chemicals Forum will become a yearly milestone in shaping the agenda for better life,” said Mr Sysiö.

The session on Chemical Industry Regulation will present the first 12 months of REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals) and the vision forward, while a panel will discuss the need for a global norm for chemical regulation. The Competitiveness and Innovation session will present and assess the efforts of the European chemical industry, and a panel will discuss ways and means for the chemical industry to survive amid global competition.

The Safety and Sustainability session will talk about the track record of chemical industry investments and future challenges, while the panel will discuss the agenda and priorities for safeguarding the environment with the aid of the chemistry sector and its products and processes. The Chemistry and Consumers session will look at present and future consumer concerns and will discuss the provision of information on chemistry and chemical products.

More details coming up

The Helsinki Chemicals Forum is being organised by the Chemicals Forum Association, with partners that include the City of Helsinki, the European Chemical Agency, the Chemical Industry Federation of Finland and the University of Helsinki.

More details about the programme and speakers will be available on the Helsinki Chemicals Forum web site later this year. Online registration for the event will begin in January 2009.

More information:
Kyösti Sysiö, Secretary General
Chemicals Forum Association
Tel. +358 50 385 2043
E-mail: kyosti.sysio(@)helsinkicf.eu

www.helsinkicf.eu

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