What is HCF?

Helsinki Chemicals Forum (HCF) is an independent forum aimed at promoting chemicals safety and chemicals management globally. The conference is built around high-profile panels and keynote presentations as well as related debates. The themes for the two day seminar are selected for their global relevance and topicality by the HCF Programme Committee.

The forum is organised every year in Finland at Messukeskus Helsinki. It gathers few hundred participants from about 40 different countries around the world. The conference is engaging international authorities, politicians, industry leaders, NGOs, academics, the media and specialists interested in chemicals safety issues.

Why attend?

Just ask our visitors and specialists – watch the video:

HCF Newsletter

Get the latest news to your email and be up to date of the key event regarding chemicals safety management. We’ll send approximately 6–8 letters a year.

Conference reports & Presentations

All significant new ideas and conclusions arising from the themes covered in the forum are compiled into a Conference Report. Please find the reports below.

• HCF 2017 conference report
• HCF 2016 conference report
• HCF 2015 conference report
• HCF 2014 conference report

Press material

Image bank (Search Criteria: Helsinki Chemicals Forum)

Press accreditation

If you want to accreditate as a press delegate, please contact:

Ms Tarja Gordienko
Communications Manager
+358 50 584 7262
tarja.gordienko@messukeskus.com

The Organisation

Helsinki Chemicals Forum is being organized by the Chemicals Forum Association in co-operation with the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), the European Commission, the European Chemical Industry Council (CEFIC), the Finnish Government with partners including the City of Helsinki, the Chemical Industry Federation of Finland and the University of Helsinki.

Chemical Watch

the official media associate of Helsinki Chemicals Forum

Chemical Watch website

Helsinki Chemicals Forum Advisory Board

The HCF Advisory Board consists of high-level leaders and plays a vital role in shaping, advising and directing the strategic thinking and content behind the programme.

Advisory Board members:

Mr. Jan Vapaavuori, City of Helsinki – Chairman
Mr. Bjorn Hansen, ECHA – Vice-Chairman
Mr. Anthony Cox, OECD
Ms. Nina Cromnier, Swedish Chemicals Agency
Mr. Tim Kasten, UNEP
Mr. Pentti Kivinen, The Finnish Fair Foundation
Mr. Timo Leppä, Chemical Industry Federation of Finland
Prof. Markku Leskelä, Association of Finnish Chemical Societies
Ms. Hannele Pokka, Ministry of the Environment
Ms. Tiina Putkonen, Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency
Prof. Markku Räsänen, University of Helsinki
Mr. Kestutis Sadauskas, EU-Commission
Mr. Peter Smith, Cefic
Ms. Maarit Vesanto, The Finnish Fair Corporation
Mr. Hannu Vornamo

Helsinki Chemicals Forum Programme Committee

The HCF Programme Committee consists of representatives of international chemical industry organizations and authorities. The Programme Committee is led by Mr. Hannu Vornamo, Secretary General of Helsinki Chemicals Forum.

Programme Committee members:

Mr. Erwin Annys, Director, Chemicals Policy, CEFIC, Belgium
Mr. David Azoulay, Managing Attorney, CIEL, Switzerland
Mr. Geert Dancet, Secretary General, Helsinki Chemicals Forum
Mr. Bob Diderich, Head of Division, OECD
Mr. Jacob Duer, Head of Chemicals and Waste Branch, UNEP
Mr. Michael Lulei, Director Product Safety and Chemicals Policy, VCI
Mr. Jukka Malm, Deputy Executive Director, ECHA
Mrs. Mamta Patel, Editorial Director, Chemical Watch
Mr. Brian Richards, Executive Director, Office of Chemical Safety, Australia
Mr. Jake Sanderson, Manager, Environment Canada, Canada
Mr. Rob Visser, former Deputy Director, OECD
Mr. Michael Walls, Vice President, American Chemistry Council, USA

The Helsinki Chemicals Forum has successfully established its place as the leading forum for promoting chemical safety and analysing different problem areas over the years. Watch the video discussing the importance of the HCF

“We consider the Helsinki Chemicals Forum a Norden star under which we flock when we need orientation on important topics with chemical safety. So it is really a corner stone in my agenda every year to meet here with all the participants when to spring comes in discussing these topics which are of importance for our public health, and our environment in Europe and the rest of the world.”

– Mr. Geert Dancet, Secretary General of Helsinki Chemicals Forum, former Vice-Chairman at ECHA

“The operations of the Helsinki Chemicals Forum are led by the esteemed Advisory Board. In 2016 especially we would like to welcome its new members from the OECD, UNEP, the European Commission, CEFIC and TUKES, the Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency. We would also like to thank our supporters: the City of Helsinki, the Finnish Fair Foundation, the Finnish Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and naturally all our partners.”

– Hannu Vornamo, former Secretary General, Helsinki Chemicals Forum

How can we help you?

Interested in being a member of our Advisory Board or Programme Committee? Or are you looking for a partnership with HCF Association, interested in exhibiting at the congress or offering a site visit to HCF visitors? Or do you have ideas how we can further develop the forum? Please do not hesitate to contact us! Helsinki Chemicals Forum contact persons