The official public launch of the UNFSS was held in Geneva on March 21st and 22nd 2013.

The UNFSS will provide an opportunity to address the issue of Voluntary Sustainable Standards as a sustainable development tool. It will also provide an opportunity for participants to express their opinion on priority issues the UNFSS should address and activities it should undertake.

Presentations from the UNFSS Launching Conference March 21-22, 2013:

Objectives and Challenges of UNFSS, Ulrich Hoffman, UNCTAD

Nexus between regulatory and private standards: discussion on governmental concerns, Fanny Demassieux, UNEP

Dynamic Interactions between Public and Private Food Standards: main issues and perspectives, Pilar Santacoloma, FAO

Taking stock of the current research on the impacts of voluntary sustainability standards, Joseph Wozniak, ITC

Impact Assessment: state of sustainability measurement, Daniele Giovannucci, COSA

Working Groups

I. Decision-making processes and draft decision making tool, Bill Vorley, IIED

II.a  Capacity Building and Capacity Needs, Chris Wunderlich, SCAN

II.b  Capacity needs and needs assessment, Bernardo Calzadilla Sarmiento, UNIDO

III.  Harmonization and equivalence of VSS, Diane Bowen, IFOAM

UNFSS ‘Flagship Reports, Matthew Wenban-Smith, OneWorldStandards

Trade for Sustainable Development (T4SD) database (ITC), Joseph Wozniak, ITC

Reports from UNFSS Briefing Sessions (China and Thailand):

Review Report UNFSS Briefing Beijing, Frank Grothaus, UNFSS

Review Report UNFSS Briefing Bangkok, Chusak Chuenprayoth, Thai Board of Trade

For further information, please see the following sections:

1. Agenda
2. Documentation for the Launch
3. Logistical Information
4. Registration
5. Accommodation