These could be further developed, especially to consider the socioeconomic links of chemicals and waste issues, and possibly integrated with SAICM or operated in liaison with it. It collects scientific knowledge about issues of chemical pollution and provides summaries and interpretations of the available knowledge for decision-makers and the public.49 The organization of the IPCP consists of a general assembly that convenes annually and a board that is responsible for the general direction of the work of the panel and for approving results from the research conducted under the panel. Research reports are prepared by different working groups. The IPCP has clearly been modelled after the IPCC, and the main function of both bodies is to develop expert knowledge, based on the latest science, for use by policy-makers in their relevant fields.