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Working Group on Future of IFCS 3rd Teleconference/Meeting 30 January 2008 Meeting Summary Report
Participants Chair Co-chair Members Dr Z. Sabo Prof. J. Katima Mr G. Dehghani Co-worker: Mr N. Heidari Dr Marta Ciraj Co -worker Mrs Karmen Krajnc Dr J. De Kom Dr G. Karlaganis Ms P. Silkavute for Dr S. Wibulpolprasert Prof. Abdouraman Bary Mr M. Musenga Ms Hong Zhou Dr Kyung-Hee Choi Dr S. Tiptarodol Co-worker Dr A. Kongphanich Dr I. Zastenskaya Mr A. Ludborzs Ms M.M. Cerqueira Co-worker Ms S. Oliveira Emb. C. Maquieira Dr T. Jakl Co-worker Ms B. Perthen-Palmisano Ms M. Luxem Dr L. Corra Mr B. Erikson Dr Romy Quijano Mr G. Wiser Dr R. Koch Mr Craig Boljkovic for Dr S. Al-Tuwaijri cc: Mrs. A. Olanipekun Mr E. Toda To be announced: Mr G. Entenza Ms J. Stratford Hungary, IFCS President Tanzania, IFCS VP Africa Iran, IFCS VP Asia & the Pacific Slovenia, IFCS VP CEE Region Suriname, IFCS VP LAC Switzerland, IFCS VP WEOG IFCS Past-President Burkino Faso Zambia China Republic of Korea Thailand Belarus Latvia Brazil Chile Austria Participated Absent
Germany NGO Science NGO Labour NGO Public Interest NGO Industry IOMC/IOCC Chair IOMC Secretariat SAICM Regional Focal Point, Africa SAICM Regional Focal Point, Asia & the Pacific SAICM Regional Focal Point, Central & Eastern Europe SAICM Regional Focal Point, Latin America & Caribbean SAICM Regional Focal Point, Western Europe & other Groups SAICM Secretariat
Observer IFCS Secretariat
Dr M. Gubb Dr J. Stober
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1.
Opening of the meeting
The President welcomed members to the second teleconference of the Working Group (WG) thanking everyone for their contributions to the work. 2. Adoption of the agenda (IFCS/WG Future IFCS/ 11)
The proposed agenda was adopted. 3. Acceptance of meeting report of 2nd teleconference (IFCS/WG Future IFCS/10)
The draft report was accepted.
4. Forum VI draft decision document (revised draft dated 17 Dec 2007)
The President introduced the agenda item thanking the small drafting group for their work and those that provided input contributing to the preparation of the text. He noted that a revised draft decision document had been prepared ahead of schedule and said that one of the main tasks for the meeting was to decide if the revised draft was a good basis for the WG face to face meeting at the end of February to finalize the paper for Forum VI. The President invited G. Wiser to introduce the revised draft decision document. G. Wiser introduced the revised draft describing the approach taken to drafting the text and provided a detailed overview of the structure and contents of each section. The budgetary implications of the proposed options have not yet been addressed. The issues of cost efficiency and availability of resources are critical points to be addressed. It was assumed that the secretariat working with others concerned would provide information after the options are finalized. He called the attention of the WG to the issue raised in the Introduction (para12) and the section on Options for future structure and institutional arrangements (para 58). ICCM2 will take place a number of months after Forum VI and is scheduled to consider and adopt its own rules of procedure. If the Forum decides on an approach that will require a specific decision by ICCM2, it will not know whether ICCM2 will be willing and able to accept the approach. In light of the situation, the Forum may wish to adopt a contingent plan in respect to the future of the Forum. The President invited general comments and detailed input. WG members making interventions were requested to submit them in writing to ensure that the input was correctly understood and can be considered. The following provides an overview of main points made in the discussion: variations and alternatives to the approaches and options proposed are possible and should also be considered; for example, one additional way to link the outcome of IFCS to ICCM is via an OELTWG, if the ICCM decides to establish such a body for future work, as a means of enabling ICCM to take up substantive input; a description of how the way IFCS functions differs from the more formal, bureaucratic procedures of the ICCM as a high level body should be included; draft does not adequately reflect the role and accomplishments of IFCS which were enabled in part by its structure and the ease with which issues can be raised; the draft should address the critical issue of support (financial and in-kind); UNEP and SAICM secretariat do not have resources to take up IFCS functions; future role & function: should recognize need for a mechanism to take up and address substantive topic in a practical way using different approaches; efforts should not only be based on scientific information; examples of topics could be provided; see paper submitted to WG by France in 2007 entitled "Why the IFCS? Thoughts on the future of the IFCS" for an elaboration of these ideas; TOR for the WG are not interpreted the same way by all members; sun setting option should be considered; draft does not include a consideration of the suitability of IFCS for the proposed future roles nor does it include an examination of possible alternatives for fulfilling these roles; IOMC wishes to remain a member of any future FSC structure;
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draft should include the clear message that the proposed future role and functions directly contribute to the 2020 goal; the proposed future role and functions should also be presented in the broader context of all target dates, e.g. 2010 CSD review of Agenda 21 Chapter 19;
The WG agreed that the revised draft dated 17 December 2007 will serve as the basis for its work at the meeting in Bangkok. The deadline for submitting written input is 22 February 2008 (12h00 GMT). The secretariat will compile written input and make it available for the WG as a meeting document. WG members were encouraged to submit input in the form of precise proposed revised or additional text to facilitate the work. In response to questions concerning the process for bringing forward the outcome of Forum sessions to ICCM2, the secretariat referred the WG to the draft provisional agenda and draft provisional annotated agenda for ICCM2 circulated for comment by the SAICM secretariat (http://www.chem.unep.ch/saicm/iccm/ICCM2/iccm2.htm, deadline for commenting 28 February 2008) and the FSC meeting document (/IFCS/FSC/07 INF 2, http://www.who.int/entity/ifcs/documents/standingcommittee/ifcs_iccm2agenda.doc ) reporting on the communications between the SAICM secretariat and the IFCS secretariat. It is planned that the outcomes of Forum V and Forum VI will be presented to ICCM2 under two agenda items: cooperation with other international organizations and new and emerging issues. To support these agenda items the SAICM Secretariat has suggested that the IFCS Secretariat prepare a document summarizing IFCS's 2006-2009 activities that have contributed to SAICM implementation. 5. Other business
In preparation for the face to face meeting, members were encouraged to review the WG mandate, i.e. to prepare a draft decision document for Forum VI. Forum VI has the mandate to negotiate and take a decision on the future of IFCS. 6. Next Meeting - 28 - 29 February 2008, Bangkok
The secretariat informed the WG that it is anticipated that the FSC meeting will adjourn early on Thursday 28 February. She proposed that the WG commence its meeting immediately following the closure of the FSC meeting. The additional time on Thursday would facilitate the work. The WG agreed to the proposal.