| Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade | |
|---|---|
 The logo of the Rotterdam Convention Secretariat | |
| Type | United Nations treaty |
| Signed | 10 September 1998 |
| Location | Rotterdam, the Netherlands |
| Effective | 24 February 2004 |
| Condition | Ninety days after theratification by at least 50 signatory states |
| Signatories | 72 |
| Parties | 161 |
| Depositary | Secretary-General of the United Nations |
| Languages | Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, Spanish |
| http://www.pic.int/ | |
TheRotterdam Convention (formally, theRotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade) is amultilateral treaty to promote shared responsibilities in relation to importation of hazardous chemicals. The convention promotes open exchange of information and calls on exporters of hazardous chemicals to use proper labeling, include directions on safe handling, and inform purchasers of any known restrictions or bans. Signatory nations can decide whether to allow or ban the importation of chemicals listed in the treaty, and exporting countries are obliged to make sure that producers within their jurisdiction comply.
In 2012, the Secretariats of theBasel andStockholm conventions, as well as theUNEP-part of the Rotterdam Convention Secretariat, merged to a single Secretariat with a matrix structure serving the three conventions.[1] The three conventions now hold back to back Conferences of the Parties as part of their joint synergies decisions.
The ninth meeting of the Rotterdam Conference[2] was held from 29 April to 10 May 2019 in Geneva, Switzerland.
The following chemicals are listed in Annex III to the convention:[3]
The Chemical Review Committee of the Rotterdam Convention decided to recommend to theconference of the parties meeting that it consider the listing of the following chemicals in Annex III to the convention:[4]
As of October 2018, the convention has 161 parties, which includes 158UN member states, theCook Islands, theState of Palestine, and theEuropean Union. Non-member states include theUnited States.
At the 2011 meeting of the Rotterdam Convention in Geneva, the Canadian delegation surprised many with a refusal to allow the addition ofchrysotile asbestos fibers to the Rotterdam Convention.[5][6][7][8] Hearings are scheduled in the EU in the near future to evaluate the position of Canada and decide on the possibility of a punitive course of action.[9][10][11]
In continuing its objection, Canada is the onlyG8 country objecting to the listing.Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan andUkraine also objected. Vietnam had also raised an objection, but missed a follow-up meeting on the issue.[12] In taking its position, the Canadian Government contrasted with India, which withdrew its long-standing objection to the addition of chrysotile to the list just prior to the 2011 conference. (India later reversed this position in 2013.)[13]
Numerous non-governmental organizations have publicly expressed criticism of Canada's decision to block this addition.[14][15][16][17][18]
In September 2012, CanadianIndustry ministerChristian Paradis announced the Canadian government would no longer oppose inclusion of chrysotile in the convention.[19]
Eight of the largest chrysotile producing and exporting countries opposed such a move at the Rotterdam Conference of Parties in 2015: Russia, Kazakhstan, India, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Cuba, and Zimbabwe.[13]
