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"UNEP: Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade, 1998" [2005] ELECD 276; in Tully, Stephen (ed), "International Documents on Corporate Responsibility" (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2005)

Book Title: International Documents on Corporate Responsibility

Editor(s): Tully, Stephen

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

ISBN (hard cover): 9781843768197

Section: Chapter 53

Section Title: UNEP: Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade, 1998

Number of pages: 7

Extract:

53. UNEP: Rotterdam Convention on the Prior
Informed Consent Procedure for Certain
Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in
International Trade, 1998

Commentary: The Rotterdam Convention (UN Doc UNEP/FAO/PIC/CONF/5
(1998), entry into force 2004) builds upon Agenda 21 Chapter 19, UNEP's Amended
London Guidelines for exchanging information on chemicals in international trade,
UNEP's Code of Ethics on the international chemicals trade and the FAO's
International Code of Conduct on distributing and using pesticides (see below). Prior
informed consent (PIC) requires exporters trading in specified hazardous substances
to obtain importer consent before proceeding with trade. Importing governments
require tools and information to identify potential hazards and exclude chemicals they
cannot safely manage. Where a government imports chemicals, the Convention
promotes safe use through labelling standards, technical assistance and other support.
In addition to the extracts below, Article 6 provides that developing country Parties
or those with transition economies can propose listing a severely hazardous pesticide
formulation under Annex III, drawing upon `technical expertise from any relevant
source'. Article 7 envisages a draft decision guidance document being prepared by the
Chemical Review Committee for chemicals recommended for listing under Annex III.
The Conference of the Parties ultimately decides whether chemicals become subject
to the PIC procedure. Article 9 contemplates removing chemicals from Annex III,
Article 12 provides for export notifications and Article 17 envisages a non-compliance
procedure. Annexes specify the information required for notifications pursuant to
Article 5 (Annex I), the criteria for listing banned or ...