Rotterdam Convention

Rotterdam Convention‏‎

The Rotterdam Convention (officially known as the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade) is a multilateral treaty designed to promote shared responsibilities in relation to the importation of hazardous chemicals. The convention was adopted on 10th September 1998 in Rotterdam, Netherlands, and came into force on 24th February 2004.

Overview

The Rotterdam Convention provides a framework for information exchange about potentially hazardous chemicals. It aims to protect human health and the environment by giving importing countries the tools and information they need to identify, manage and safely use such chemicals.

Prior Informed Consent (PIC)

The cornerstone of the Rotterdam Convention is the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) procedure. PIC requires exporters of certain hazardous chemicals to obtain the consent of the importing country before proceeding with the trade. This allows countries to decide which chemicals they want to receive and to exclude those they cannot manage safely.

Chemicals covered by the convention

The Rotterdam Convention covers a range of hazardous chemicals, including pesticides and industrial chemicals that have been banned or severely restricted for health or environmental reasons by Parties to the Convention. The list of these chemicals is dynamic and is regularly reviewed and updated by the Parties.

Implementation

The implementation of the Rotterdam Convention is facilitated by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). These organizations provide technical assistance and promote capacity building to help countries comply with their obligations under the Convention.

See also

• Stockholm Convention
• Basel Convention
• Hazardous Materials
• Environmental Law