The workshop is jointly organized by UNCTAD and the National Institute of Metrology, Standardization and Industrial Quality of Brazil (INMETRO) and is intended to bring together experts from national governments, institutions active in standards issues, the private sector and intergovernmental organizations to examine the concept and explore the development of a Consultative Task Force (CTF) on Environmental Requirements and Market Access for Developing Countries. The workshop is part of a project, funded by the Government of the Netherlands, aimed at exploring the creation of such a task force. With the exception of the morning session of the first day, the workshop will be predominantly technical and practical in nature. Activities will include a session with three break-out groups that will focus on the following issues:

• Development and implementation of standards: involving developing countries in pre-standard setting consultations
• Pro-active adjustment policies in developing countries
• Concept, coverage and nature of an international clearinghouse mechanism for environmental and health requirements, in particular on voluntary standards, and its synergies with comparable existing public and private databases.

The eleventh session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) will take place in São Paulo on 13-18 June 2004. The workshop on Environmental Requirements and Market Access for Developing countries is organised as a pre-UNCTAD XI event, and its outcome will be presented at the conference in São Paulo, at a high-level round table on "Promoting Trade for Sustainable Development", on 17 June 2004.

Further information on UNCTAD XI can be accessed at the official UNCTAD XI website.

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