The Regional Office for the Near East of the Food & Agriculture Organization of the United Nations will organize in collaboration with specialists in Agriculture, Environment and Water in the United Arab Emirates a follow-up national seminar on the implementation of “Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade”. 

The workshop will take place at the Ministry of Environment and water in the UAE from 18 - 19 October 2009, with the participation of 30 Emirate experts representing different sectors related to the chemicals management and trade (pesticides and industrial chemicals). The participants represent the following sectors: agriculture, environment, health, customs, industry, trade, research, private sectors and NGOs. 

The seminar aims at following up the implementation of the work plan prepared by the UAE to assess the progress, constraints and assistance provided by the convention. 

The seminar will also focus on the Customs Departments to inform them about the Rotterdam Convention and how to recognize the chemicals subjected to the prior informed consent during export and import.