Pharm.dr. Rune Lönngren passed away on 25 March 2010, after a long and active life.
For 30 years Dr. Lönngren took part in international work with chemicals within the Nordic Council, EFTA, OECD, WHO, UNEP, IPCS, IRPTC, UNIDO and UNCED.
He was one of the founders of the OECD Chemicals Group and its chairman between 1974 and 1977. In 1978, he chaired the Hässelby Castle Meeting, which paved the way for harmonisation and cooperation on chemicals in a broad international perspective.
He assisted the UNCED secretariat to the Rio Conference in 1992 in drafting Chapter 19 to Agenda 21, Environmentally sound management of toxic chemicals.
Dr. Lönngren received the first IFCS Award of Merit in 1997 for his work towards achieving global chemical safety and his leading role to establish the intergovernmental forum on chemical safety, IFCS.
After his retirement and at the request of KemI, Dr. Lönngren wrote International Approaches to Chemicals Control - a historical overview; an indispensable publication for many more than those who thankfully remember having had the privilege to have known a man of great knowledge and engagement.
