7th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention - invitation letter
Table of contents
Information note
The Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade (the convention) enables the world to monitor and control the trade in certain hazardous chemicals. The goal of the convention is not to ban the trade or use of specific chemicals. It allows importing parties to make informed decisions on which of these chemicals they want to receive and to exclude. If trade does take place, requirements for labelling and provision of information on potential health and environmental effects will promote the safe use of these chemicals. In Canada, the Export of Substances on the Export Control List Regulations apply to exports subject to the convention and ensure exports satisfy the labelling requirements and compliance with the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Procedure.
The PIC procedure is a mechanism for formally obtaining and disseminating the decisions of importing parties as to whether they wish to receive future shipments of those chemicals listed in Annex III of the convention and for ensuring compliance with these decisions by exporting parties.
A Conference of the Parties (COP) oversees the operation of the Convention. The COP is the body responsible for making decisions, including amendments to Annex III where chemicals subject to the PIC procedure are listed. Decisions on listing chemicals to Annex III are made by consensus.
All Parties are required to make a decision as to whether they will allow future import of each of the chemicals in Annex III of the Convention. Import decisions made by Parties must be trade neutral. If a party decides not to accept imports of a specific chemical, it must also stop domestic production of the chemical for domestic use and refuse imports from any source, including from non-parties.
All exporting parties are required to ensure that exports of chemicals subject to the PIC procedure do not occur contrary to the decision of each importing party.
Additional information on the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade is available online.