<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN"> ENB @ IFCS FORUM V, 25-29 September 2006, Budapest, Hungary; Highlights for Monday, September 25, 2006
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Fifth Session of the Intergovernmental Forum On Chemical Safety

25-29 September 2006 | Budapest, Hungary


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HIGHLIGHTS FOR MONDAY, 25 SEPTEMBER 2006

 
 

IFCS-V (Forum V) was opened on Monday morning. Participants heard keynote speakers, awards were presented and plenary heard the President’s Progress Report and addressed organizational and administrative items. In the afternoon, plenary addressed the future of IFCS and sound management of chemicals and poverty reduction. An ad hoc working group on the future of IFCS met in the evening. Participants were also presented with a Hungarian music cultural performance by children.

Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn Mahidol of Thailand (above) speaks at the IFCS Forum V opening ceremony.

OPENING CEREMONY

 
 
 
     
  Suwit Wibulpolprasert (IFCS President) opened Forum V, saying that transparency and equality are crucial elements of the decision-making process under IFCS.   Fatemeh Vaez-Javadi (Vice President and Minister of Environment, Iran) urged the SAICM Secretariat to prioritize support for information sharing and technology transfer.  
       
  Katalin Szili (President of Parliament, Hungary) highlighted the increased responsibility to prevent threats to public health and welfare from chemical sources.   Lajós Molnár (Minister of Health, Hungary) underscored some measures to generate further advancement in chemical safety.   Miklós Persányi (Minister of Environment and Water, Hungary) said IFCS’ capacity should further contribute to the sound management of chemicals.  
       
  Virgie Dammay (Alliance for Peasants in the Cordillera Homeland, Philippines) introduced the traditional farming system promoted by her organization among the peasants of the Northern Luzon Cordillera.   Ana Vera Lemos (Justiça Ambiental, Mozambique) noted the need for reliable information, and advocated using international networks and donors to influence government policy.   Joel Forman (Mt. Sinai Medical School) underlined the high social and economic costs of exposure.  

AWARDS

 
     
  Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn Mahidol of Thailand, and the Chulabhorn Research Institute were awarded the Special Recognition Award for building capacity for chemical safety and for research to prevent negative impacts of chemicals in all areas of development.   Ulrich Schlottmann (Germany) receives the Award of Merit.  

PROGRESS REPORT, ORGANIZATIONAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS

       
IFCS President Suwit Wibulpolprasert especially thanked Georg Karlaganis (Switzerland - left), Jamidu Katima (University of Der es Salaam - middle), and Romeo F. Quijano (Pesticides Action Network, Asia & Pacific) for their work.

LUNCHTIME SIDE EVENTS

 
From left to right the members of the South to South Cooperation side event: Matthew Gubb (UNEP), Soroush Modabberi (Iran), Jack Weinberg (IPEN), and Lilian Corra (ISDE).
 
     
  Peter Orris (University of Ilinois at Chicago - left) Bjørn Erikson (Confederation of International Free Trade Unions - right) spoke during the Asbestos: A Global Threat side event.  

FUTURE OF IFCS

       
  Boris Kurlyandskiy (IFCS Vice President Central and Eastern European Region - left), Ethelyn P. Nieto (IFCS Vice President for Asia & Pacific Region - middle), and Julio Monreal Urrutia (IFCS Vice President Latin American & Caribbean Region - right) supported continuation of IFCS.  
 
     
  Jamidu Katima (IFCS Vice President Africa Region) praised the IFCS's work and its open, transparent and inclusive process.   David Brown (IFCS Vice President Western Europe and Other Groups).  
 
       
  Ivana Halle (Croatia).   Abiola Olanipekun (Nigeria, on behalf of the Africa Region) stated that SAICM is still new and lacks a secure financial mechanism.   Zoltán Szabo (Hungary) supported a future role for IFCS as an open forum.  
 
     
  Franz Xavier Perrez (Switzerland) underscored the need for both policy-setting and brainstorming forums.   Takashi Fukushima (Japan) did not support “sunsetting” IFCS, as proposed by the US.  
 
       
  Marthe Delphine Rahelimalala (Madagascar - left), Jean-Louis Maurer (France - middle) and Henry Rene Diouf (Pesticides Action Network, Africa - right) supported the continued existence of IFCS..  

POVERTY REDUCTION

 
       
  Maria Neira (WHO) introduced the session.   Lynn Goldman (Johns Hopkins University) highlighted the disproportionate vulnerability of the poor to hazardous materials’ exposure.   Jill Hanna (European Commission) said there is a need for seed money outside geographical aid allocation.  
 
       
  Sorojeni Rengam (Pesticides Action Network, Asia & Pacific) highlighted the importance of promoting the involvement of the poor.   Nelson Manda (Zambia) presented perspectives from developing countries.   Sirithan Pairoj-Boriboon (Thailand) noted the importance of empowering and involving grassroots organizations and farmers in policy formulation.  

AD HOC WORKING GROUP ON FUTURE OF THE IFCS

 
Delegates meet for the ad hoc working group on the future of IFCS.

RECEPTION HOSTED BY THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH OF THE REPUBLIC OF HUNGARY ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25

 
Delegates enjoy dinner on the night before the opening of IFCS's Forum V and a folkloric hungarian dancing.
 
     
  Hungarian folk dancers.  
 
     
  Delegates join in on the fun.  

HUNGARIAN CHILDREN SING FOR DELEGATES

 
     
 
 
 

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Related Links

Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety website
Forum V: Chemical Safety for Sustainable Development
WHO | Forum V - Side Events
World Health Organization
UNEP Chemical Programme
UNEP – Strategic Approach to Internatinal Chemicals Management (SAICM)

Inter-Organization Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals (IOMC)
International Programme on Chemical Safety
UNITAR Chemicals and Waste Management Programme
OECD Chemicals Programme

Links to ENB/YMB coverage

Fourth Session of the IFCS
Third Session of the IFCS
Second Session of the IFCS
Archives of IFCS meetings
ENB Coverage of meetings on Chemicals Management
Linkages Update
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