UN/OECD seminar in follow-up to the 2020 Beirut port explosion: Lessons learned, experiences and good practices in managing risks of ammonium nitrate storage, handling and transport in port areas, preventing accidents and mitigating their consequences

The “UN/OECD online seminar in follow-up to the 2020 Beirut port explosion: Lessons learned, experiences and good practices in managing risks of ammonium nitrate storage, handling and transport in port areas, preventing accidents and mitigating their consequences” is to be held on December 14, 2021, as a 3h online event. The seminar will be held in Arabic, English, French, Russian and Spanish.

It will address the effective risk management of AN and AN-based fertilizers in port areas, including temporary (or intermediate) storage, handling and transport, especially when in proximity to high density areas, and related accident prevention, preparedness and response topics, including transboundary elements. It will cover lessons learned from the Beirut port explosion and other accidents involving AN and similar substances. In this respect, the outcomes may also serve to highlight the legal frameworks and control measures that are essential for controlling risk associated with the handling, storage and transport of all hazardous substances in port areas.

More information about the seminar, including its objectives, content, target audience and the co-organizing international organizations and their legal and policy instruments is available in the concept note (ENG), (FR), (RU), (SP), (AR),

A survey has been launched in July (ENG) (FR), (RU), (SP), (AR), addressed to representatives of national authorities, in order to gather information which will inform the seminar’s organization. The deadline for completion of the survey is 3 September 2021.

UNECE, under the leadership of the secretariat to the Industrial Accidents Convention and in close cooperation with the secretariats to the Sub-Committees of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods (TDG) and on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS), formed a unique partnership for the seminar’s organization, involving the following partners, forming an Organizing Committee:

• International Labour Organization (ILO),
• International Maritime Organization (IMO),
• United Nations Environment Programme/Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Joint Environment Unit (UNEP/OCHA JEU),
• United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) Regional Office for Arab States and
• Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

An advisory group, composed of experts and contributing industry organizations, guides the seminar’s organization.