8 - 9 November 2012, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo - A

National Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) Inception Workshop was held in Kinshasa on 8 - 9 November 2012 to launch the project “Strengthening National Capacities for SAICM Implementation and Supporting GHS Capacity Building in the Democratic Republic of Congo”, funded by the SAICM Quick Start Programme Trust Fund.

The workshop provided the opportunity to raise awareness about the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS), its objectives and scope of applications, as well as its relationship with other international chemicals agreements such as SAICM, the Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions, as well as the Montreal Protocol.

The event also focused on planning for a number of project activities including: Establishment of a Project Coordinating Committee, Development of a GHS National Implementation Strategy, Provision of training on the GHS, as well as awareness

raising and supporting activities on the GHS and the organization of a National GHS Workshop for the project stakeholders.

The workshop was attended by about forty representatives of government, industry and civil society organizations, as well as academia and a resource person from UNITAR. It was hosted by the Ministry of Environment of the Democratic Republic of Congo.