In late 1986, following various chemical accidents, UNEP suggested a series of measures to help governments, particularly in developing countries, to reduce the occurrence and harmful effects of technological accidents and emergencies. The first two of these measures were designed to aid governments entering into international conventions.

The third measure was to institute a programme enabling governments, in co-operation with industry, to work with local leaders to identify the potential hazards in their communities and to prepare measures to respond and control emergencies which might threaten public health, safety and the environment.

At UNEP's 14th Governing Council in June 1987, the secretariat was requested to continue these efforts with governments, the United Nations system and world industry and trade, taking into account work already undertaken in this area by other international organizations, and in close co-operation with them.

Industries all over the world, particularly the International Council of Chemical Associations (ICCA), have co-operated with UNEP in supporting the application of APELL. The APELL concept has been successfully introduced in more than 30 countries and in over 80 industrialised communities world wide: in Latin America (i.e., Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Argentina), in Asia (i.e., China, India, Thailand, Indonesia, and Korea) and in the Middle East. The guiding principles of the APELL process for emergency planning are also practised in the United States and Canada, through programmes of ACC - American Chemistry Council.

Remarkable changes have occurred in many of the communities that have implemented APELL, such as a general safety consciousness and an increased concern for environmental issues. APELL is part of a broad cleaner and safer production programme that UNEP has launched with the objective of promoting worldwide sustainable production and consumption patterns.