About the Chemicals Program

Our History

CIEL’s Chemicals Program began in 2000, advocating for and developing a treaty on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs).  Since then:

• Stockholm Convention on POPs has grown from twelve to twenty-two toxic chemicals
• Strategic Approach to Chemicals Management (SAICM) has begun to take shape
• The European Union has enacted progressive chemicals reform
• The human rights dimension of toxic waste has begun to be articulated

CIEL’s Chemicals Program is at the forefront of advocating for and crafting international, regional, and national laws to protect human health and the environment from toxic chemicals. 

CIEL’s current work is concentrated in these primary topics:

Chemicals Program Current Activities:

• Mercury Pollution:  Creating a Treaty
• U.S. Laws on Toxic Chemicals:  Championing Reform
• Persistent Organic Pollutants:  Strengthening International Law
• International Chemicals Management:  Negotiating with Governments
• Nanotechnology Project:  Advocating for Precaution

Our Team

CIEL’s Chemicals Team is led by Senior Policy Advisor Daryl Ditz. Since joining CIEL in 2004, Daryl presses to reform U.S. law on chemicals, collaborates with European counterparts, and contributes to global progress in controlling chemicals.

Senior Consulting Attorney Glenn Wiser, who led the Chemicals Program from 2002-2011, guides the development of a new global agreement to control mercury and advises on broader issues of international chemicals law.

David Azoulay, Managing Attorney of the Geneva Office, leads our work on nanotechnologies with partners and allies in Europe and around the world.  David is increasingly participating in other aspects of chemicals policy, including linking our experience in chemicals law and policy with CIEL’s leadership on human rights and the environment.

Staff Attorney Baskut Tuncak has a broad-based experience in law, innovation and technology, including several years of experience as a research chemist in biopharmaceuticals and synthetic biology. A former law fellow in CIEL’s Geneva office, Baskut has worked on a wide range of subjects, including intellectual property, climate change and human rights.