For a more comprehensive list of events in trade and sustainable development, please refer to ICTSD’s web calendar. Please bear in mind that dates and times of WTO meetings are often changed, and that the WTO does not always announce the important informal meetings of the different bodies.
Coming up in the next two weeks
28 November, Paris, France: TRADE AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT: CHALLENGES AHEAD FOR A SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION OF THE DOHA TRADE ROUND IN HONG KONG. This conference examines the implications of the Doha Trade Round in Hong Kong on Africa, and on sustainable smallholder agriculture in France and other developed economies. With the concluding talks of the Doha round looming, the seminar aims at dismantling the technicalities of the debate surrounding the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and is an opportunity to engage in a constructive dialogue with French leadership. For further information contact Julie Cohen, fax: 01 45 49 53 90; e-mail: julie.cohen@sciences-po.fr
28 November, Montreal, Canada: ECOSYSTEM SERVICES, MEAS AND MARKET BASED APPROACHES. This United Nations University Institute of Advanced Studies (UNU-IAS) side event to the UN Climate Change Conference (COP 11 and COP/MOP 1) aims to reassess the current status of market based mechanisms for ecosystem services, and identify ecosystem services that while serving the purposes of the CBD and UNFCCC, developing countries may have a market advantage in a liberalised market. For further information contact Rebecca Carter, tel: (+81) 45-221-2300; fax: 221-2302; email: carter@ias.unu.edu
28 November - 2 December, Melbourne, Australia: CODEX COMMITTEE ON FOOD IMPORT AND EXPORT INSPECTION AND CERTIFICATION SYSTEMS (14TH SESSION). This session is organised by the Codex Alimentarius Secretariat. For further information contact the Codex Secretariat, tel: (+39 06) 5705 2287; fax: 5705 3369; email: codex@fao.org
28 November - 2 December, Montreal, Canada: THE 11TH MEETING OF THE CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY SUBSIDIARY BODY ON SCIENTIFICS, TECHNICAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL ADVICE. For further information about this event contact the CBD Secretariat, tel.: (+1-514) 288-2220; fax: 288-6588; secretariat@biodiv.org
28 November - 2 December, Geneva, Switzerland: FIRST MEETING OF THE STOCKHOLM CONVENTION EXPERT GROUP ON BEST AVAILABLE TECHNOLOGIES AND BEST ENVIRONMENTAL PRACTICES (BAT/BEP). For further information about this event contact the Secretariat of the Stockholm Convention, tel.: (+41-22) 917-8191; fax: 797-3460; email: ssc@pops.int
28 November - 9 December, Montreal, Canada: FIRST MEETING OF PARTIES TO THE KYOTO PROTOCOL AND ELEVENTH CONFERENCE OF PARTIES TO THE UNFCCC. Canada is hosting the historic first Meeting of Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (MOP-1), which is taking place in conjunction with the eleventh session of the Conference of Parties (COP-11) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). For further information contact the UNFCCC Secretariat, tel: (+49 228) 815-1000; fax: 815-1999; email: secretariat@unfccc.int
29 November - 1 December, Washington, D.C., US. GMA CONFERENCE ON THE FUTURE OF FOOD. This event will consist of a discourse on the future of the food industry, such as health and wellness, market access, regulation, emerging science and innovation. For further information contact Lynda Prioleau of GMA, tel: (+1 202) 337 9400
1 December, Brussels, Belgium: WORKSHOP ON THE REVISION OF THE NOVEL FOOD REGULATION: VIEWS AND EXPERIENCES REGARDING TRADITIONAL FOODS. Organised by UNCTAD, the Centre for the Promotion of Imports from Developing Countries (CBI), GTZ and IPGRI, this workshop will examine a discussion paper exploring options from the perspective of developing countries for the revision of the EU Novel Food Regulation regarding traditional foods. For further information contact Ariane van Beuzkeom, tel: (+31 10) 201 3432; fax: 411 4081; email: abeuzekom@cbi.nl
1-2 December, London, England: PATENTING LIVES CONFERENCE. This event is hosted by the Queen Mary Intellectual Property Research Institute, University of London. Included in this event will be presentations on Human Rights and Ethical Frameworks, Development and Innovation, Public Goods and Public Interest, Traditional Knowledge, Medicine, Ethical Legal and Social Issues of Human Gene Patents, and Agriculture. For further information contact Johanna Gibson, email: j.gibson@qmul.ac.uk
Other upcoming events
6-10 March, Treviso, Italy: INTRODUCTION TO BIOSAFETY AND RISK ASSESSMENT FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL RELEASE OF GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS (GMOs): THEORETICAL APPROACH AND SCIENTIFIC BACKGROUND. This workshop is being organised by the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Bio technology (ICGEB) in collaboration with the Istituto Agronomico per l’Oltremare. The workshop will be aimed at those scientists who are interested in issues related to risk assessment and management for the environmental release of GMOs. The main goal of the workshop is to provide the participants with an overview of the current research in biosafety, the applicable regulation in a number of countries and different risk assessment approaches used for the environmental release of GMOs. For further information, tel.: +39-040-3757333; fax: +39-040-226555; email: courses@icgeb.org
8-9 March, Sao Paulo, Brazil: BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BRAZIL: IMPLICATIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR GLOBAL AGRICULTURE. Biotechnology and Brazil is the first major international conference to focus on Brazils recently approved seed legislation and the effect it will have on the prospects in Brazil itself and around the world. The conference is an opportunity to meet and discuss biotechnology issues with people who are actively involved in the subject. Biotechnology and Brazil will examine the implications of biotech regarding cost of production of soybeans and future GMO crops; the positions and policies that Europe has taken with regard to GMO soybeans, cotton and corn, and consumer concerns surrounding GMO labelling
28-30 March, Edinburgh, Scotland: AQUACULTURE TODAY 2006. Aquaculture Today 2006 will explore the key issues affecting the aquaculture industry in a national, European and international context. Leading figures from the industry will participate in formal presentations, discussion sessions, exhibitions and networking. For further information contact Claire Anderson, tel.: +44 (0) 131-312- 4550, email: canderson@specialpublications.co.uk