ROTTERDAM CONVENTION >> background description
Convention Articles
The Rotterdam Convention at a Glance
Name:
The Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in
International Trade (1998)
(The Rotterdam or PIC Convention)
What is the Purpose of the Convention?
The purpose of this Convention is to promote shared responsibility and cooperation in the international trade in certain hazardous chemicals. In order to protect human health and the environment from potential harm, the Convention facilitates the sharing of information and prior informed consent among Parties and contributes to the environmentally sound management of certain hazardous chemicals.
What Substances or Chemicals Are Covered by the Convention?
The Convention covers 27 pesticides (including five severely hazardous formulations) and five industrial chemicals. Additional pesticides, industrial chemicals or formulation are added as they meet the Convention's criteria. What are the likely Scenarios where a Developing Country or Countries with Economies in Transition would use this Convention?
Developing countries or Countries with Economies in Transition can use the Rotterdam Convention to set up a mechanism to ban the import of certain pesticides and industrial chemicals from other countries that are Parties to the Convention. The pesticides and industrial chemicals are those that have been banned or severely restricted for health or environmental reasons in other countries. Developing countries or Countries with Economies in Transition countries are also encouraged to investigate and notify pesticides that are causing health or environmental problems under the conditions of use in their country, even though these pesticides may not be banned elsewhere. What are the Economic and Social Benefits of the Convention?
The Convention improves the flow of information to Developing countries and Countries with Economies in Transition, warning them of health and environmental problems associated with certain hazardous chemicals. The effect is be to prevent unwanted imports of hazardous chemicals into such countries, saving the community and environment from exposure to dangerous chemicals. The Convention can play a central role in developing capacity building initiatives to help governments improve their regulation of chemicals. Parties to the Convention receive six monthly updates that inform of regulatory actions taken by other countries to ban or severely restrict a pesticide or industrial chemical.
What are the Costs Associated with the Convention?
There is an administration fee and some costs associated with the national administration of the Convention.
What Personnel will be Required to Administer the Convention?
A national authority responsible for prior informed consent (PIC) will need to identify at least one person to be the contact point for receiving information on chemical imports. If a Developing Country or Country with an Economy in Transition is a producer and exporter of listed chemicals, they will need to ensure that someone carries out the appropriate notification requirements.
Is National Legislation Required?
Yes. National legislation is required if a country wants to restrict or ban the use or import of certain hazardous chemicals.
Are There Reporting Requirements?
Yes. Each Party is required to report on all chemicals that they have listed as banned or severely restricted substances, if this is a result of human health and environmental concerns. Developing countries are encouraged to report on pesticides causing health or environmental problems because of the conditions of use in their country. Parties need to respond to each chemical included on the Prior Informed Consent List ('PIC List') with a decision of whether they prohibit or agree to its import. If a country produces or exports chemicals that it has banned or restricted, they must inform the importing country. If a country produces or exports any chemicals included on the PIC List, they must ensure that the importing country has consented to its import.
Will There be Help in Administering the Convention?
Yes. Parties with more advanced programs for regulating chemicals should provide technical assistance, including training, to other Parties.
What is the Status of the Convention?
The Convention entered into force on the 25th of February 2004.
Are There Other Agreements Associated with the Convention?
The Rotterdam Convention is complementary to the Stockholm Convention in that they deal with some similar chemicals. The Rotterdam Convention provides information on chemicals which may support the effective implementation of Basel, Bamako and Waigani Conventions, which deal primarily with hazardous and chemical waste, as well as the assessment of new POPs under the Stockholm Convention.
Secretariat at FAO
Plant Protection Service
Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations
Viale delle Terme di Caracalla
00100 Rome, Italy
Tel:(+39)06 57053441
Fax:(+39)06 57056347
e-mail: pic@fao.org
Secretariat at UNEP
UNEP Chemicals
11-13, chemin des Anemones
CH1219 Chatelaine, Geneva, Switzerland
Tel:(+41)22 9178177
Fax:(+41)22 7973460
e-mail: pic@unep.ch
Internet: http://www.pic.int
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