The code is developed in response to decision 16/35 of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) of May 1991 entitled "Toxic chemicals", and to Agenda 21, in particular its chapter 19 on environmentally sound management of toxic chemicals which was adopted by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development at Rio de Janeiro in June 1992 and endorsed by resolution 47/190 of the United Nations General Assembly in December 1992.