OPCW Executive Programme on Integrated Chemicals Management held in Seoul

Representatives from OPCW Member States and the chemical industry participate in the Executive Programme on Integrated Chemicals Management, held in Seoul, Republic of Korea, from 16 to 18 December 2025.

THE HAGUE, Netherlands - 12 January 2026 - Thirty-three executives and senior managers from a diverse range of countries enhanced their knowledge and skills in the effective and sustainable management of chemicals at the Executive Programme on Integrated Chemicals Management in Seoul, Republic of Korea from 16 - 18 December 2025.

Organised by the OPCW in collaboration with the Korean Chemical Industry Association (KCIA), the programme provided a unique platform for senior leaders from industry, government, academia, and other stakeholders to exchange best practices in areas including chemical safety and security management, process safety management, green and sustainable chemistry, and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence. The programme specifically focused on the risks posed by commercially available dual-use chemicals and promoted appropriate risk management strategies.

Aligned with Article XI of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), the programme addressed a range of detailed topics, including promoting a culture of chemical security; chemical safety and security management from a laboratory perspective; stepwise chemical safety management; chemical supply chain security; the adoption of green and sustainable chemistry in agrochemical formulations; and artificial intelligence and digital transformation in the chemical industry, among others.

In addition to experts from the Republic of Korea and the OPCW Technical Secretariat, seasoned experts from Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Kenya, Malawi, Malaysia, and the United Kingdom contributed to panel discussions and symposiums of the programme, by sharing their extensive managerial experience from government agencies, the chemical industry, academia, and laboratories. Representative of the OPCW expressed deep appreciation to the Korean side for co-hosting this important event and thanked all partners and participants for their dedication and contributions to the programme.

The programme also encouraged participants to explore ways to build connections and strengthen cooperation among industry partners, national focal points, and the Secretariat, fostering partnerships and international cooperation that extend beyond the duration of the event.

"Through the technical presentations and exchanges of experience, I gained a broader understanding of common challenges and diverse regulatory approaches. This knowledge will support future technical cooperation initiatives and improvements in chemical safety regulations, and provides a solid basis for establishing technical working groups and continuing the exchange of good practices," said Patricia Lujan Falcon Martinez, a participant from Paraguay.

"The programme strengthened my understanding of how site-level process safety, quality control, and safety culture support chemical security and non-proliferation objectives. The experience will directly inform my future work in advising organisations on resilient and internationally aligned process safety management systems," said Matthias Rizzi, a participant from Switzerland.

Background

The Executive Programme in Integrated Chemicals Management is part of OPCW's activities to implement the Components of an Agreed Framework for the Full Implementation of Article XI, established by the decision of the Conference of States Parties in 2011 (C-16/DEC.10 dated 1 December 2011).

As the implementing body for the Chemical Weapons Convention, the OPCW, with its 193 Member States, oversees the global endeavour to permanently eliminate chemical weapons. Since the Convention's entry into force in 1997, it is the most successful disarmament treaty eliminating an entire class of weapons of mass destruction.

In 2023, the OPCW verified that all chemical weapons stockpiles declared by the 193 States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention since 1997 - totalling 72,304 metric tonnes of chemical agents - have been irreversibly destroyed under the OPCW's strict verification regime.

For its extensive efforts in eliminating chemical weapons, the OPCW received the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize.