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Rotterdam Convention Secretariat Progress report
January - October 2009
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This progress report describes the work of the Rotterdam Convention Secretariat towards the implementation of mandated activities for the period 2009-2011.
To view the full report in PDF format please click here
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Calendar of meetings 2009 - 2011 organized by the Secretariat and organized by partners in
collaboration with the Secretariat
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Orientation Workshop for members of the Chemical Review Committee
8-10 December 2009, Budapest, Hungary
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The sixth session of the Chemical Review Committee (CRC.6) is scheduled for 15-19 March 2010. As more than 17 of the 31 experts will be participating in the work of the Committee for the first time an orientation workshop was convened to which all members of the Committee were invited.
The workshop was attended by 23 of the 31 experts as well as two Ex-chairs of the Committee who participated as resource persons. The meeting provided an opportunity to review the role and mandate of the Committee as well as the working papers and policy guidance developed to facilitate the work of the Committee.
The participants examined in detail the work of the intersessional task groups for the preliminary review of candidate chemicals as well as that of the drafting groups established to prepare decision guidance documents. The meeting provided an opportunity to foster working relationships among the members of the Committee and for the existing members to share their experience with those who would be participating for the first time. The workshop operated through a series of break out group and plenary sessions that facilitated an open discussion including consideration of questions and answers on all aspects of the operation of the Committee. The provisional agenda for CRC.6 was reviewed along with the list of candidate chemicals.
Participants expressed their appreciation for the opportunity provided by the workshop for members of the CRC to work together and were optimistic that it would contribute to the more efficient and effective operation of the Committee.
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Sub-regional training and awareness-raising workshop for Designated National Authorities (DNAs) and relevant stakeholders on the Implementation of the |
| Rotterdam Convention and other Multilateral Environmental Agreements, including a pilot session on the Rotterdam Convention’s Clearing House Mechanism |
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Yerevan, Armenia, 23 to 27 November 2009
Designated National Authorities (DNAs) and other stakeholders from the following eight Central European countries participated in a training and awareness raising workshop on the Rotterdam Convention which was hosted by the Ministry of Nature Protection of Armenia from 23 to 27 November 2009; Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, and the Republic of Mongolia. In addition, the Russian Federation attended the meeting as a Non-Party observer.
The objectives of the training workshop were to assist Parties to strengthen their capacity to implement the Convention and share their experiences on this matter. In addition, for the first time, the meeting included a pilot session covering aspects of the new programmatic area on clearing house mechanism. Participants received training on a prototype clearing-house portal, and more specifically carried out a practical exercise on Import Response submission using this tool.
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First Joint workshop of the Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions for Effective Participation in the Review Committees’ Work – CRC and POPRC
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This joint workshop of Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions was held on 17-19 November in Cairo, Egypt.
The workshop provided an environment for fruitful information exchange and clear understanding on the work of the two Committees, POPRC and CRC, as the first meeting of its kind. Through discussions with experts, focal points and designated authorities, up to over 50 participants shared knowledge on the mandate and structure of the two Committees of the Stockholm and the Rotterdam Conventions, their role in the process of adding new chemicals to the Annexes of the Conventions; chemicals’ review as well as information requirements under the two Conventions, and related technical discussions. In addition, experiences and challenges in chemicals management have been shared as well as success examples and suggestions on what should be done to improve the efficiency of the work of the two committees at the national level.
What emerged from the discussions is a sincere desire to work together under the synergy process at national and international levels. Several country participants also showed willingness to improve their national processes while importance of national and regional administrative and legal infrastructures have also been discussed.
Needs for further guidance and assistance were expressed for implementing the requirements of both Conventions especially in view of the nine chemicals newly listed under the Stockholm Convention as decided by the Conference of the Parties in May 2009.
The meeting created opportunities for information exchange and synergistic approaches in chemicals management at the national and international level; and provided for a better understanding of the lifecycle approach of chemicals through the MEAs.
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Regional Awareness Raising Workshop on Enhancing Cooperation and Coordination for the implementation of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions for English-speaking countries in Africa
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Pretoria, South Africa, 28 to 30 October 2009
Official contact points, focal points and Designated National Authorities from the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions of seventeen English-speaking countries in Africa participated in the first Regional Awareness Raising Workshop on Enhancing Cooperation and Coordination for the implementation of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions held in Pretoria, South Africa from 28 to 30 October 2009.
Other stakeholders, such as non-governmental organizations, intergovernmental organizations and Regional Centres of the Basel and Stockholm Conventions participated as well.
The workshop aimed at offering a holistic approach to the implementation of the three Conventions and focused on identifying synergies and linkages at the national level as a way to foster compliance with the Conventions’ requirements.
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Sub-regional training and awareness-raising workshop for Designated National Authorities (DNAs) and relevant stakeholders on the Implementation of the Rotterdam Convention and other Multilateral Environmental Agreements
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Pretoria, South Africa, 2 to 6 November 2009
Designated National Authorities (DNAs) and other stakeholders of eight Anglophone African countries participated in a training and awareness raising workshop on the Rotterdam Convention which was hosted by the African Institute in Pretoria from 2 to 6 November 2009. In order to increase synergies in implementing the Stockholm-, Basel- and Rotterdam Convention, and to allow participants to be able to attend both meetings, this meeting was convened back to back with an awareness raising workshop on these three Conventions.
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2nd WHO Meeting on Health Risk Assessment Toolkit in collaboration with Rotterdam Convention Secretariat
29-30 October 2009, Lyon |
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The second WHO Meeting on the draft WHO Health Risk Assessment Toolkit (RA Toolkit) took place from 29-30 October 2009, Lyon where Rotterdam Convention was represented.
International scientists, government officials and experts from Thailand and Malaysia participated in this workshop and provided their results of the testing of the toolkit.
Scientific and technical discussions on risk assessment and the toolkit took place for improvements of the draft and future steps on how it can be used to support countries in risk assessment was also discussed at this workshop.
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Sub-regional training and awareness-raising workshops for francophone African Designated National Authorities (DNAs) on the Implementation of the Rotterdam Convention
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Accra, Ghana 19-23 October 2009
Overall Objective: The overall objective was to provide assistance to Parties in the implementation of the Rotterdam Convention and thereby to improve institutional capacity in the area of sound chemicals management at the national and international levels.
While the specific objectives were:
- to strengthen the capacity of Designated National Authorities to implement the Rotterdam Convention by providing practical training on the key obligations and operational elements of the Convention;
- to facilitate a national dialogue among relevant stakeholders on the implementation of the Rotterdam Convention:
- to raise awareness of the linkages between the Basel, Stockholm and Rotterdam Convention; in particular how the three Conventions can jointly assist Parties to strengthen chemicals management at the national level.
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WHO Meeting on Risk Assessment Toolkit in collaboration with Rotterdam Convention Secretariat
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WHO Meeting to Lead into the Test Phase of the draft WHO Risk Assessment Toolkit (RA Toolkit) in collaboration with Rotterdam Convention Secretariat took place from 29-30 July 2009 in Chulabhorn Research Institute, Bangkok, Thailand.
Scientists, government officials and experts from Thailand, Malaysia and China participated in this workshop which provided for the introduction of and discussion on the Risk Assessment Toolkit and future steps for the testing of it.
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WHO Inception Workshop on Severely Hazardous Pesticide Formulations
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A WHO/Rotterdam Convention Secretariat Joint Project to Improve Capacities for the Identification of Severely Hazardous Pesticide Formulations (SHPF) under the Convention was launched at a WHO inception work shop convened from 24 to 26 June 2009 in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.
Some 30 participants from Ghana and Tanzania, representing a wide range of key stake holders including relevant Ministries, NGOs, WHO and FAO attended the meeting.
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Workshop on WCO GCI Environment Border Protection for Customs Officers
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The World Customs Organization (WCO) offered extensive training to Customs officers with the objective of ensuring the implementation and uniform application of the conventions that it administers.
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Thematic Meeting on Trade Related Issues under the Rotterdam Convention for the European Community and Selected Trade Partners
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The thematic workshop on trade related issues under the Rotterdam Convention for the European Community and selected trade partners took place from 22-26 June 2009 in Cyprus.
Representatives from the European Commission, France, Germany, India, Iran, Netherlands, Peru, Poland, Spain, Sudan, Ukraine, United Kingdom, and Venezuela attended the meeting.
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WCO-GCI Joint Workshop
for Customs officers
India 25- 29 May 2009
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WCO-GCI Joint Workshop for Customs officers took place in the National Academy of Customs, Excise and Narcotics (NACEN), India from 25- 29 May.
As a great example of partnership on customs, representatives from Rotterdam Convention Secretariat (also representing Stockholm Convention Secretariat), WCO, GCI and CITES came together in this meeting for customs authorities from the Asia Pacific region.
The meeting also benefited from the participation of a Basel and Stockholm Regional Center representative and NACEN authorities, as well as Indian media.
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Resource kit
Evaluation form
The Rotterdam Convention Resource Kit has been developed
as a comprehensive source of information and training materials to assist in the ratification and implementation of the Convention.
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This evaluation form has been prepared with the objective of collecting feedback on the usefulness and quality of the contents of the Resource Kit.
Your comments are appreciated and will help the Secretariat to ensure the continued development of the Resource Kit in response to the changing needs of interested Parties and observers.
Please complete this on-line form and with just one click you will be able to submit it to the Secretariat.
The form is anonymous.
The Secretariat of the Rotterdam Convention thanks for your precious support.
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