The last weekend in November is traditionally the time when National Authorities from around the world meet in The Hague to discuss the topics of the day, share experiences and compare challenges. This year will be no different when we all get together on 25 to 27 November.

Each year we try to have a theme for the meeting and in 2011 we will be breaking the meeting into a series of break out groups addressing the following issues:

(a)                preparing and submitting declarations under Article VI of the Convention as well as the transfers regime under the Convention;

(b)               Management of inspections under Article VI of the Convention

(c)                drafting and enacting national implementing legislation;

(d)               assistance and protection under Article X of the Convention

(e)                Chemical safety management

We hope that you will be joining us at the National Authorities day and that you will come prepared to make a substantive contribution to at least one or more of the break out groups. It is your participation that makes these discussion valuable and enriches the experience of every one attending.

see you in November …………

From 27 to 29 September 2011 the Member States of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean (GRULAC)  countries met for a Regional Meeting of National Authorities in Buenos Aires Argentina.

The National Authority of Argentina and the Technical Secretariat co- hosted the meeting which took place at the historical Palace San Martin in Central Buenos Aires. Attended by 27 States from the Region the meeting took place over 3 days and explored a wide range of legal, declarations and inspections related issues. Of specific interest to participants was a session which considered suggestions as to how the issue of Article VII implementation of the Convention might be considered in the future. A number of very useful observations and suggestions were made and these will be seriously considered when States Parties meet again later in the year.

The meeting was also an opportunity for States from the region to explore and share experiences in the implementation of the Convention and a number of very insightful presentations were made on the different approaches taken to national implementation. My thanks go to those who made the presentations and who were willing to discuss the trials and tribulations as well as the successes of their work.

The Argentine National Authority did a tremendous job of hosting the meeting and I am sure that everyone who attended will once again join me in thanking Gustavo, Maria and the other colleagues from the Foreign ministry for their tremendous work and effort in making the meeting a success.

Of course no meeting would be complete without the obligatory team foto ….