IFCS/FSC/02.12 Rev2
FORUM STANDING COMMITTEE
41st Meeting/Teleconference, 23 April 2002 - Teleconference
Summary Report
1. CALL TO ORDER
PRESIDENT
2. ROLL CALL
CONFERENCE SERVICE
Members: Officer/Government/Organization
Participants & Advisors
President
Brazil
Mr H. Cavalcanti
Vice-Presidents
Africa
Asia & Pacific
Senegal
Japan
Mr N.C. Sylla (partial)
Mr T. Yamamoto
Mr J. Yoshida
Dr A. Hudak
Ingeniera M. Bolanos
Dr G. Bengtsson
Central & Eastern Europe
LAC
WEOG
Hungary
Ecuador
Sweden
Past President
Canada
Mr R. Hickman
Mr M. Brownstein
African Region
Nigeria
Mrs A. Olanipekun
Asia & Pacific
China
Ms Wang Ji
Central & Eastern Europe
Russian Federation
Prof. B. Kurlyandskiy
LAC
Trinidad & Tobago
Mr D. Roopnarine
WEOG
Australia
Germany
USA
Mr P. Burnett
Dr M. Kern
Dr W. Sanders, Mr D. Strother
IOMC
UNITAR
Head, IOCC Secretariat
Mr A. Halpaap
Dr T. Meredith (WHO)
Industry NGO
ICCA
Mr G. Lloyd
Public Interest NGO
PAN
Dr R. Quijano
Labour NGO
IUF
Mr P. Hurst
Forum IV host
Thailand
Ms Pornpit Silkavuth
Executive Secretary
IFCS Secretariat
Dr J. Stober
Mrs R. Kirkby
Ms J. Rae
Apologies:
IUPAC(Science NGO)
Hungary
El Salvador (alt for Honduras)
Germany
Prof. W. Klein
Prof. G. Ungvary
Mr I. A. Cordova Flamenco
Prof. U. Schlottmann
Absent:
Iran
Slovenia
Public Interest NGO
Amb. S.S.R. Tabatabaei
Mr A. Grabner
Mr J. Weinberg (EHF)
Unable to connect:
Madagascar
Papua New Guinea
Mrs M. Rahelimalala
Ms K. Solien
IFCS/FSC/02.12Rev2
3.
INTRODUCTION
3.1
President’s Introductory Remarks and Welcome to Participants
The President welcomed participants and reviewed the list of documents
(IFCS/FSC/02.07rev1).
3.2
Adoption of Agenda ( IFCS/FSC/02.06rev1)
The agenda was adopted as presented.
3.3
Acceptance of Record of the 4th Meeting (IFCS/FSC/02.05)
The record of the 40th FSC meeting was adopted as presented.
4.
MONITORING PROGRESS
4.1
New Issues
4.1.1 UNEP Strategic Approach: GC Decision
- Proposal for IFCS Contribution
The FSC, during its 40th meeting, asked that participants in the A3 Working Group
meeting in Ottawa from 18-20 March 2002, hold side discussions to develop an
options paper on how the IFCS could contribute to the follow-up on the decisions of
the UNEP GC concerning further development of a strategic approach to international
chemicals management and how it might be possible to structure the Forum IV
agenda to include the topic. The President explained that his arrival in Ottawa had
been delayed and Sweden (G. Bengtsson) had volunteered to Chair the side meeting
in his place. He asked G. Bengtsson to report on the meeting outcome.
G. Bengtsson referred members to the briefing note on the Ottawa informal meeting
(IFCS/FSC/02.08). IFCS contribution to the further development of a strategic
approach and considerations for WSSD PrepCom III (April/02) and PrepCom IV
(June/02) were discussed. Attendees discussed various ways the IFCS could
contribute that were presented in the Briefing Note. It was agreed to propose to the
FSC that a formal letter be sent to UNEP indicating how IFCS could assist in the
development of a strategic approach. It was agreed that a draft letter to UNEP be
prepared for consideration at the 23 April FSC teleconference.
- Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management – Draft Letter to
UNEP on IFCS proposed contribution (IFCS/FSC/02.10)
The President referred members to the letter drafted by the Secretariat as proposed at
the Ottawa side meeting (17 March 2002) and invited comments. P. Burnett cautioned
that the letter should clarify that IFCS was not an executing body and was not
assuming responsibility for implementing the UNEP decision. Members agreed the
FSC should propose that a joint planning group be formed to work with UNEP and
that an appropriate amount of time during Forum IV be scheduled as a contribution to
the consultation recommended by the Governing Council. The need for an open
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multi-stakeholder process to address the full scope of chemicals management issues
should be emphasized. IOMC (A Halpaap) conveyed a message on behalf of
UNEP that the letter should be addressed to the Director of UNEP Chemicals
who serves as the IFCS Focal Point for UNEP. The opportunity for the President to
discuss the proposals with UNEP at the June 2002 IOMC/IOCC meeting was
welcomed.
It was agreed that immediately following the teleconference the Secretariat would:
- revise the draft letter to UNEP incorporating FSC comments and circulate it
to members for final review;
- send the final version of the letter to the President for forwarding to UNEP.
The final version of the letter will be distributed by the President to the FSC for their
information.
5.
FORUM IV
5.1
Agenda and Programme Schedule (IFCS/FSC/02.09, IFCS/FSC/01.85)
The President asked the Executive Secretary to review the current proposal for the
Forum IV agenda. J. Stober provided a summary of plenary items and place holders
identified so far on the agenda and reviewed the general time schedule. Recalling the
past FSC discussion and pending decision on a “Topics for the Future” agenda item,
she suggested that members review the proposed agenda taking into consideration the
outcome of the discussion on the FSC proposal for an IFCS contribution to the UNEP
GC Decision on a strategic approach to international chemicals management. She
indicated that a final decision on the agenda would be needed in the near term and
definitely prior to the November 2002 face-to-face FSC meeting in Bangkok.
The President invited comments. After some discussion it was agreed that a final
decision on the agenda for Forum IV would be made following the IOCC meeting
27-28 June on the IFCS proposal concerning the UNEP strategic approach.
PAN (R. Quijano) informed the meeting that IPEN in collaboration with other NGOs
was preparing a proposal to include children and chemical safety on the Forum IV
agenda. The Executive Secretary commented that ‘children and chemicals’ had
originally been envisaged as a theme under the ‘Topics for the Future’ item. The
President noted that the topic could be considered as an integral part of the theme of
Forum IV and included in the presentations during the opening session.
6. Communications and Events
6.1
WSSD
- Status Report on outcome of PrepCom III, 25 March – 5 April
The President reported that the outcome of PrepCom III was unclear. Various
elements of the text on chemicals proposed by Juscanz was included in sections on
‘environment’ and ‘health and environment’. He referred members to the WSSD web
site for further information. M. Brownstein (Canada), a participant in the
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negotiations, asked members to let him know the names of those serving as delegates
to PrepCom IV to facilitate Canada’s efforts to have references to chemicals
management included in the final text. P. Hurst informed members that the
Chairman’s paper prepared during PrepCom III had been withdrawn and is being
rewritten. Two issues on chemicals are to be resolved – how to add chemical-related
themes to the Chairman’s paper and contribute these same themes to the WSSD
process.
- Proposals for IFCS organized side event and/or exhibit (IFCS/FSC/02.11)
The President informed members that exhibit spaces measuring 10 square metres
remained available although the application deadline had passed. Exhibits will be
open from one week prior to the WSSD and will remain open one week after the
sessions. There will also be opportunities for virtual displays (videos, etc). An
opportunity exists for IFCS exhibit space or presentation at one of the hotels where a
side event is scheduled. The President indicated that the IFCS would need external
resources to be able to contribute to the WSSD program.
M. Brownstein reported that side event application criteria and deadlines had been
tightened recently, with final decisions to be made by the end of June. He proposed
that consideration be given to possible objectives, and the target audience, for an
IFCS exhibit or presentation.
G. Lloyd provided an update on ICCA preparations for WSSD and a possible
collaboration with South Africa to present ICCA case studies carried out in the
country. He suggested that the case study ICCA had carried out in Brazil could be part
of an IFCS side event. Ms Kim Headrick, Chair, UN ECOSOC GHS Sub-committee
had informed him that no concrete steps had been taken yet for a special event on
GHS.
J. Stober urged members to take a decision on:
- whether IFCS would have a side event at WSSD;
- whether the IFCS would organize an exhibit. If either is agreed, a lead coordinator
and other volunteers to organize and prepare for the event and/or exhibit, including
completion of the application, would be needed.
The President asked if members favoured a side event. Several were reluctant to
support the activity and felt that the potential benefit of increasing awareness of IFCS
was outweighed by the effort that would be needed to prepare the event and the
uncertainties concerning how to attract the right audience. R. Hickman was not in
favour of preparing an exhibit, and felt that limited funds would be better spent to
facilitate attendance at IFCS sponsored activities. He observed that a seminar could
be considered if it could be done for minimal costs and did not involve IFCS payment
of travel costs.
There being some support among members for an IFCS event - but not an exhibit, the
President agreed to take the lead in investigating the possibilities further and
communicate to the FSC by mid May on the possibility of arranging for aside
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event/presentation. The President invited members to provide further comments on
the proposal for a side event by email.
7.
Other Business
A. Olanipekun reminded members of the proposal she had made at the 40th FSC
meeting/teleconference for the development, by IFCS for presentation at Forum IV, of
an inventory of ongoing risk reduction initiatives for chemicals other than POPs to
address Priority D3 (ref. IFCS/FSC/02-05, Item 5.1, Page 7). A decision by the FSC
was pending. It was agreed that the FSC would give the proposal further thought and
discuss it at the next teleconference.
8.
Future FSC Meetings
It was agreed that the next meeting/teleconference would take place 16 July 2002 at
12h00 GMT. Arrangements for a separate call on WSSD preparations would be made
as needed.
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