UNCTAD is organizing the Annual session of the Consultative Task Force (CTF) on Environmental Requirements and Market Access for Developing Countries, scheduled to take place in Geneva on Monday 3 and Tuesday 4 July 2006. The CTF is a multi-stakeholder forum that it is open not only to government representatives, but also to participation by the private sector, NGOs, academia and relevant international organizations. In fact, participation by these stakeholders is very much encouraged, because the CTF also covers voluntary environmental, health and food-safety requirements set by the private sector or NGOs. and most of such and mandatory requirements necessitate well-functioning public-private partnerships to pro-actively and strategically adjust to new requirements in key export markets. The meeting will discuss implications of environmental requirements and related health requirements for developing countries as well as possible pro-active adjustment policies.

In addition to taking stock of ongoing CTF work and plan future CTF activities, the meeting will draw on the results of the UNCTAD/FIELD project “Building Capacity for Improved Policy Making and Negotiation on Key Trade and Environment Issues”, funded by the UK Department for International Development (to be completed by September 2006). Part of the discussions will focus on two sectors: (a) horticulture and (b) electrical and electronic equipment and energy-using products.