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Helsinki Chemicals Forum launches 2021 virtual edition with debates on key global topics in chemicals regulations and top voices
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Helsinki Chemicals Forum launches 2021 virtual edition with debates on key global topics in chemicals regulations and top voices

After a year of postponed conferences around the world, the Helsinki Chemicals Forum (HCF) will return for its 12th Forum, to be held over a two-day virtual event, 27 and 28 April 2021. With 5 panels and high-level keynote speeches, HCF 2021 will host topical debates on key issues faced by the chemicals industry globally and share policy trends aimed towards a safer, more sustainable future.

  • Five Key Topics: United Nations’s upcoming ICCM5, EU green chemicals strategy, transparency & risk communication, safer substitution and the future of toxic-free textiles.
  • Five Global Moderators: UNEP, EU, CEFIC, ECHA, OECD and Chemical Watch.
  • Priority Keynotes, led by Virginijus Sinkevičius, the EU Commissioner for Environment.
  • Two days of open panels, networking and insights into present policy and future trends for chemicals regulations.

The year 2020 brought challenges and opportunities to diversify upon all of us. In response to the continuing global pandemic, the Helsinki Chemicals Forum will hold its European conference virtually, with a 2021 HCF Forum that permits more international participation and attracted higher than ever-before Guest Speakers and Keynotes.

Geert Dancet, Secretary General of HCF shared his enthousiasm for this year’s programme: “We can now share this conference platform with many more participants from all over the world to raise their questions to truly global top experts “. On each of the two days – 27 and 28 April - the conference is thus scheduled from 1 to 6 p.m. (EET).

The Forum will begin with a special Keynote from Virginijus Sinkevičius, the EU Commissioner for Environment. In his opening words he will explain how the chemicals strategy for sustainability fits in the EU Green Deal. He will later be joined by Marco Mensink, Director General of Cefic, and Jeremy Wates, Secretary General of the European Environment Bureau for a debate on the ambition of this strategy.

Jan Vapaavuori, Lord mayor of Helsinki is expected to offer Opening Remarks on Helsinki’s plan for climate neutrality, while ECHA’s Executive Director Bjorn Hansen will give a keynote speech on functioning of the chemical EU registration system set by REACH and CLP.

Five panels hosted by UNEP, EU, CEFIC, ECHA, OECD and Chemical Watch

The two-day forum will include five expert panels. In total 30 top class specialists from EU and third countries are to take part in these debates.

Day one of HCF 2021 will have two panel discussions. The first panel, moderated by UNEP, will cover main challenges ahead of the anticipated July 2021 United Nations conference ICCM5 on chemicals and waste management. Panel two, hosted by the European Commission, will focus is on how green chemical policy can be conceived.

Day two will start with a full expert panel on the very pressing requirement for more transparency & risk communication, hosted by ECHA. A later panel, hosted by OECD, will focus on the search and global need for safer and more sustainable substitution of dangerous chemicals, ending with a spotlight of on the regulatory challenges faced by one global value chain,  textiles, hosted by Chemical Watch.

The full programme of and registration at only 300 euro for the Helsinki Chemicals Forum conference is available at www.helsinkicf.eu.

For media representatives, participation is free but requires prior accreditation for the event (Please, email HCF Communications Manager tarja.gordienko@messukeskus.com). HCF welcomes experts from developing countries, who can apply free access tickets ( Please, email HCF at customer.service@messukeskus.com).

A parallel virtual event: ChemBio Finland

Helsinki Chemicals Forum participants are encouraged to follow also the parallel virtual event, ChemBio Finland 2021, which will be organised online on Wednesday 28 April 2021. ChemBio Finland is the most significant event for the chemistry and biotechnology professionals in the Nordic Countries and Baltic regions. The detailed programme of the Chembio Finland will be published soon, and the participation requires registration on ChemBio Finland 2021 virtual pre-event.

The Helsinki Chemicals Forum is organised by the Chemicals Forum Association in co-operation with a high number of Finnish and international partners. The event will be held as a virtual event on 27 and 28 April 2021. The organisation is also open to sponsors. To learn more, go to http://www.helsinkicf.eu

Twitter: @ChemicalsForum
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/helsinki-chemicals-forum

Helsinki Chemicals Forum:

Geert Dancet, Secretary General, tel.: +32 468 300787, geert.dancet@gmail.com

Tarja Gordienko, Communications Manager, tel.: +358 50 584 7262, tarja.gordienko@messukeskus.com

Photos and logo of the event for free use: https://mediabank.messukeskus.com/kuvat/Helsinki+Chemicals+Forum/

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