Regional Symposium On

Regional Symposium on

Sound Management of Chemicals in Arab States

Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic

26-29 October 2009

Proposed Agenda

MONDAY, 26th October 2009

09.00 hrs / Registration
09.30 hrs / Official Opening Ceremony
Keynote Address (Syria, LAS, ALO, UNEP)
10.15 hrs / Coffee Break
10.45 hrs / Adoption of Agenda; Selection of Chair;
Session I
Regional Symposium on Sound Management of Chemicals in Arab States
11.00 hrs / Presentations by MEA partners of GCI (30 mins each)
·  Basel Convention – by Dr. (Prof.) Hani Moubasher, Mr.
·  Stockholm Convention – by Dr. Lulwa Ali (Mrs)
12.00 hrs / Coffee Break
12.30 hrs / Presentations by MEA partners of GCI (30 mins each)
·  Montreal Protocol – by Dr. Abdulelah Alwadaee (Mr), UNEP ROWA
·  Rotterdam Convention – by Dr. Lulwa Ali (Mrs)
·  General discussions
14.00 hrs / Lunch Break
Session II
26th Meeting of Arab Group on Chemical and Waste MEAs – part 1
15.00 hrs / Session II; Discussions on agenda items for the 26th Meeting of Arab Group on Chemical and Waste MEAs
16.30 hrs / Coffee Break
17.00 hrs / Continuation of Session II
Discussions
18.00 hrs / END OF DAY

TUESDAY, 27th October 2009

Session III: Green Customs Initiative
09.00 hrs / Session III; - facilitated by Dr. Ezra Clark (Mr), UNEP DTIE
- Over view of the GCI Guide on MEAs
- Training on use of GCI Guide
11.00 hrs / Coffee Break
11.30 hrs / - Continuation of training on use of GCI Guide
- Drafting of Conclusions for GCI Sessions
14.00 hrs / Lunch Break
Session IV
26th Meeting of Arab Group on Chemical and Waste MEAs – part 2
15.00 hrs / Session IV; Continuation of discussions on agenda items for the 26th Meeting of Arab Group on Chemical and Waste MEAs
16.30 hrs / Coffee Break
17.00 hrs / Continuation of Session IV
Discussions
18.00 hrs / END OF DAY

WEDNESAY, 28th October 2009

Session V
Strategic Approach for International Chemical Management (SAICM)
09.00 hrs / Session V;
·  Overview of SAICM – by Mr. Jonathan Kruegar, UNITAR
·  SAICM after ICCM-2 – by Ms. Mehdia Siari, UNITAR
11.00 hrs / Coffee Break
11.30 hrs / ·  Lesson learnt on implementation of SAICM, including Quick Start Programme Trust Fund projects (QSPTF) – by Mr. Jonathan Krueger, UNITAR
·  Drafting of Conclusions of SAICM Sessions
14.00 hrs / Lunch Break
Session VI
6th Meeting of Arab Coordination Unit (ArCU) for SAICM
15.00 hrs / Discussions on agenda items for the 6th Meeting of the Arab Coordination Unit for SAICM
16.30 hrs / Coffee Break
17.00 hrs / Continuation of Session VI
- Discussions
- Conclusions & Recommendations
18.00 hrs / END OF DAY

THURSDAY, 29th October 2009

Session VII
Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS)
09.00 hrs / Session VII;
·  Introduction to the GHS – by Mr. Jonathan Krueger, UNITAR
·  Activities of the UNITAR/ILO GHS Capacity Building Programme – by Ms. Mehdia Siari, UNITAR
11.30 hrs / Coffee Break
12.00 hrs / Continuation of Session VII:
·  Introduction to the Group Discussion – by Ms. Mehdia Siari, UNITAR
·  Country statements on status of GHS Implementation - Participants
Group Discussions on establishment of national GHS implementation strategy
a)  A national GHS implementation strategy;
b)  A synergistic chemicals management strategy that includes GHS; or
c)  Incorporation of GHS into existing chemicals management systems
14.00 hrs / Lunch Break
FINAL Session
15.00 hrs / Discussions on conclusion of the Symposium (following compilation of daily draft conclusions)
Finalization of Recommendations
16.30 hrs / Coffee Break
17.00 hrs / Discussion on conclusion of the 26th Meeting of Arab Group on Chemical and Waste MEAs
Finalization of Recommendations
18.00 hrs / FINAL END

Note: All afternoon sessions are conducted in Arabic, for representatives of Arab Countries, with no presentations

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