The eighth meeting of the Chemical Review Committee (CRC.8) of the Rotterdam Convention will take place in Geneva from 19-23 March 2012 at the Varembé Conference Center.
The meeting will be opened at 10.00 a.m. on Monday, 19th March.
Meeting venue
Varembé Conference Centre
Rue de Varembé 9
1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland
Registration of Delegates and Admission to Meetings
The Registration desk will be open from Sunday from 10.00 a.m. to 17.00 p.m. and Monday from 09.00 a.m. to 17:00 p.m.
The meeting will open at 10.00 a.m. on Monday.
Participants must enter at the Centre’s main entrance, and proceed to the Registration desk to register and pick up their Building Passes.
Access to the Center is permitted only for persons in possession of a valid Building Pass.
Passes will only be issued after the registration process has been successfully completed. Valid identification will need to be presented to registration officials in order to collect the Building Pass.
Delegates are requested not to leave briefcases or any valuable items unattended in conference rooms.
Meeting documents
All documents for the eighth meeting of the Chemical Review Committee will be available by internet, memory stick or e-mail only. Printed documents will not be available at the meeting. Information on the arrangements for this paperless meeting are available on the CRC.8 website.
Information for funded participants
DSA will be paid to funded participants by bank cheque, from 19-21 March. These checks can be cashed by participants at the UBS in Vermont, from 8.30 a.m. to 16.30 p.m.
Local transportation
Geneva's Cointrin International Airport is about five km away from the Varembé Centre (only about ten minutes by taxi). Geneva's main railway station, Cornavin, is 2 km from the Conference Centre and linked with public transportation (tramway and bus) as well as taxis. If you want to reach the Varembé Conference Centre by car, you can use the parking lot ‘des Nations’, on Varembé road, about 80 m away from the Varembé Centre.
Geneva's public transport is fast, frequent, safe and clean. From the airport, you can take bus 10 to downtown Geneva (cost 3 CHF). You can also take the train for the same price. Connections are approximately every 8 minutes.
To get to the Conference Centre from the main train station, Cornavin, you can take bus number 5 (get off at Vermont or Varembé), bus 8 (get off at IUT) or tram 15, direction Nations (get off at "Sismondi").
Taxis are easily available and safe but comparatively expensive. You can call
022 320 22 02 or 022 331 41 33 if you need a taxi.
Hotel reservations
Delegates are required to handle their own hotel reservation by contacting hotels directly. A list of hotels is available also on the CRC-8 website. 
Where to eat
It is possible to get snacks or a lunch at the Conference Centre from Monday onwards. There are also some restaurants within walking distance from the Centre. A provisional list and map of lunch places is available for download.
Currency
The currency of Switzerland is the Swiss Franc. The UBS (United Bank of Switzerland) is situated on Chemin Louis-Dunant (parallel street).
1 Swiss franc = approximately 1.08 US $, 0.83 Euro and 0.69 UK pounds.
Internet access
An Internet Café will be available to delegates at the Varembé Centre. Wireless Internet Service is available throughout the Centre.
Other useful links
Geneva International Airport
Map of Geneva with search function
For specific questions, you are always welcome to contact the Secretariat.
Electricity
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Voltage: 230 volts
Frequency: 50 Hz
Plug/socket: C (CEE 7/16) , J
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Ms. Digna Francisco
Joint Services of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
11-13 Chemin des Anémones
CH-1219 Châtelaine GE
Switzerland
Tel: +41 22 917 8296
Fax: +41 22 917 8082
Email: pic@pic.int