Overview of the Rotterdam Convention

2 Overview of the Rotterdam Convention Structure of the presentation: Part 1 -Introduction to the Rotterdam Convention Part 2 - Operation of the Rotterdam Convention Part 3 -Benefits to its Parties Part 4 -Status of implementation in the region Part 5 -Outcome COP-4 Part 6 -Technical assistance

Rotterdam Convention 3 Part 1 Introduction to the Rotterdam Convention Some key dates for the Rotterdam Convention: Sept 1998 Text of the Convention adopted Interim PIC procedure (voluntary) 24 Feb 2004 Convention enters into force (legally binding) March Parties

Rotterdam Convention 4 Objectives To promote shared responsibility and cooperative efforts among Parties in the international trade of certain hazardous chemicals in order to protect human health and the environment from potential harm and to contribute to their environmentally sound use

Rotterdam Convention 5 Meeting the Objectives How: Provides an early warning of potentially hazardous chemicals Provides the basis for decisions regarding of future imports of chemicals (PIC procedure) Helps to enforce those import decisions

Rotterdam Convention 6 Scope of the Convention Applies to: Chemicals banned or severely restricted to protect human health or the environment Severely hazardous pesticide formulations (SHPF) - causing problems under conditions of use in developing countries or countries with economies in transition

Rotterdam Convention 7 Key Provisions PIC procedure - Provides for a national decision making process on import of hazardous chemicals in Annex III and attempts to ensure compliance with these decisions by exporting Parties  40 chemicals listed in Annex III, including 25 pesticides, 4 SHPF and 11 industrial chemicals Information exchange - the exchange of information on a broad range of potentially hazardous chemicals

Rotterdam Convention 8 Overview of Articles Article 1- 4: Objective, definitions, scope and DNAs role Article 5-14: Procedures for inclusion and removing of chemicals and for export and import of chemicals Article 15-30: General obligations and common clauses

Rotterdam Convention 9 Overview of Annexes Annex IInformation requirements for notifications made pursuant to Article 5 Annex II Criteria for listing banned or severely restricted chemicals in Annex III Annex IIIChemicals subject to the PIC procedure Annex IV Information and criteria for listing severely hazardous pesticide formulations in Annex III Annex V Information requirements for export notification Annex VISettlement of Disputes

Rotterdam Convention 10 Part 2 Operation of the Rotterdam Convention Key Players  Who they are and what they do Key Provisions  What they are and how they operate

Rotterdam Convention 11 Key Players 1.Designated National Authorities (DNAs) 2.Conference of the Parties (COP) 3.Chemical Review Committee (CRC) 4.Secretariat

Rotterdam Convention Designated National Authorities Generally government departments responsible for policy decisions and regulation of pesticides or industrial chemicals Key contact point for the secretariat regarding the implementation of the convention Responsible for coordinating actions at the national level to ensure compliance with the Convention e.g. government ministries, exporters, importers, customs authorities

Rotterdam Convention Conference of the Parties (COP) Highest authority of the Convention Oversees the implementation of the Convention  including policy issues, programme of work and budget, inclusion of chemicals in Annex III, establishes subsidiary bodies Meets every two years  COP 4, October 2008

Rotterdam Convention 14 3.Chemical Review Committee (CRC) Composed of government designated experts in chemicals management (31 members – geographical distribution) Reviews notifications of final regulatory actions and proposals from Parties Makes recommendations to COP on the addition of chemicals to Annex III

Rotterdam Convention Secretariat Provided jointly by UNEP and FAO  Convenes meetings of the COP and CRC  Facilitates assistance to Parties in implementation of the Convention  Coordinates with regional and international partners Unique example of cooperation between UN organizations

Rotterdam Convention 16 Key Provisions PIC procedure - Provides for a national decision making process on import of hazardous chemicals in Annex III and to ensure compliance with these decisions by exporting Parties Information exchange - the exchange of information on a broad range of potentially hazardous chemicals

Rotterdam Convention 17 Key provision: PIC Procedure Key elements: Decision Guidance Documents (DGD) Import response PIC Circular Responsibilities of importing and exporting Parties

Rotterdam Convention 18 Key provision: PIC Procedure Summary: 1.COP decides to make a chemical subject to the PIC Procedure (Annex III) 2.Secretariat circulates a DGD to all Parties 3.Parties submit import response for each chemical 4.Secretariat circulates all import responses to all Parties through the PIC Circular 5.Parties follow up on import / export responsibilities

Rotterdam Convention 19 Key provision: Information Exchange Mechanism for the exchange of information on a broad range of potentially hazardous chemicals: Any chemical that is banned or severely restricted to protect human health or the environment Severely hazardous pesticide formulations causing problems under the conditions of use

Rotterdam Convention 20 Key provision: Information Exchange Key elements: PIC Circular – summaries of notifications of national regulatory actions, import responses, contact details DNAs Export notification – an indication of the hazardous chemicals that are entering the country Information to accompany export – improved labeling and accompanying information in line with GHS, while HS Codes linked to work of the WCO will facilitate tracking of PIC chemicals

Rotterdam Convention 21 Part 3 Benefits to its Parties 1.Prevents unwanted trade (shared responsibility) 2.Early warning system 3.Informed decision-making (PIC procedure & information exchange) 4.Export notification 5.Information accompanying export (labeling and provision of safety data sheets) 6.Network of DNAs 7.Technical Assistance

Rotterdam Convention 22 Part 4 Status of implementation in the region Implementation in the Caribbean and Latin American regions  Ratification  Import responses to Annex III  Notifications  Non-Parties

Rotterdam Convention 23 Status of implementation – Caribbean region PARTIESYear ratification Total import responses as of 2009 Complete notifications as of 2009 PesticidesIndustrial chemicals Non-Annex III chemicals Annex III chemicals Belize Cuba Dominica Dominican Republic Guyana Jamaica Suriname

Rotterdam Convention 24 Status of implementation – Caribbean region List of non-Parties: Antigua and Barbuda Bahamas Barbados Grenada Haiti Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Trinidad and Tobago

Rotterdam Convention 25 Status of implementation – Latin American region PARTIESYear ratification Total import responses as of 2009 Complete notifications as of 2009 PesticidesIndustrial chemicals Non-Annex III chemicals Annex III chemicals Argentina Bolivia Brazil Chile Colombia Ecuador El Salvador Mexico Nicaragua Panama Paraguay Peru Uruguay Venezuela

Rotterdam Convention 26 Status of implementation – Latin American region List of non-Parties: Costa Rica Guatemala Honduras

Rotterdam Convention 27 Status of implementation Why a low level of ratifications in the region??? What are the major challenges of Parties in the region???

Rotterdam Convention 28 Part 5 Outcome COP-4, October 2008 > 500 participants from 113 Parties, 14 non-Parties, 6 IGOs, 26 NGOs/industry societies High Level Segment attended by 52 (vice) Ministers Ministerial panel discussions: “Sound chemicals management: relieving the burden on public health”

Rotterdam Convention 29 Outcome COP-4 Key outcomes: Listed tributyltin in Annex III as of 01/02/2009 Unable to reach consensus on inclusion chrysotile asbestos and endosulfan in Annex III  Agreed to reconsider at COP-5  Agreed to share import decisions on a voluntary basis as information exchange Nominations experts CRC

Rotterdam Convention 30 Outcome COP-4 Key outcomes (cont’d): Procedure and institutional mechanisms on non- compliance – NOT adopted and agreed to reconsider at COP-5 Adopted recommendation on enhanced coordination and cooperation among the secretariats of Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions Strong support for technical assistance programme in by many Parties Adopted Programme of work on technical assistance and budget for triennium

Rotterdam Convention 31 Part 6 Technical assistance The following technical assistance meetings were organized in the following categories: 1.Developing nationals plans (NAP) 2.National follow-up seminars 3.Thematic meetings 4.Fostering cooperation among DNAs 5.Working directly with individual countries

Rotterdam Convention 32 Technical assistance in the Caribbean and Latin American region 1.Developing nationals plans (NAP): subregional meetings in 5 countries (Belize, Dominica, El Salvador, Mexico, Venezuela) 2.Follow-up seminars: in 12 countries (Nicaragua, Peru, Costa Rica, Cuba) 3.Thematic meetings:  1 national and 1 subregional meeting on trade in Brazil  1 national meeting on SHPFs in Ecuador 4.DNAs: 2 subregional meetings of DNAs in Chile and in Panama

Rotterdam Convention 33 Technical assistance General approach: Responding to needs identified by Parties Building on work undertaken previously Incorporates new areas of strategic direction:  Joint delivery through strengthened partnerships  Emphasis on regional participation and delivery  Programme for industrial chemicals management

Rotterdam Convention 34 Technical assistance Activities identified as priority by Parties: Resource kit Awareness raising and training meetings Thematic meetings:  SHPF  Trade-related issues  Preparation of notifications of final regulatory action  Customs (jointly with SC & BC)  Resource Mobilization (jointly with RC & BC)  Clearing House Mechanism (jointly with RC & BC) Industrial chemicals programme

Rotterdam Convention 35 Technical assistance Partners in the regional delivery of technical assistance: FAO and UNEP Regional offices Stockholm and Basel Regional Centres Regional Experts UNEP and FAO divisions Stockholm and Basel Convention secretariats Regional networks, such as CARICOM

Rotterdam Convention 36 For more information: