Rotterdam Convention
Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade (simply Rotterdam Convention) is a multilateral treaty aimed at protecting human health and the environment. It enables countries trading in hazardous chemicals to make informed decisions about which imports they are willing to receive.
The Rotterdam Convention was adopted in 1998 and entered into force in 2004. As of 2022, 161 states and the European Union have joined the agreement. Argentina, the United Arab Emirates and the United States have signed but not ratified.
Key Provisions and Procedures
The Convention establishes a “Prior Informed Consent” process which is a notification and consent system for hazardous chemicals and pesticides being traded internationally. For chemicals banned or severely restricted domestically, Exporting Parties must inform prospective importers before the first shipment leaves the exporting country.
The Convention defines pesticides and industrial chemicals that have been banned or severely restricted for health or environmental reasons by Parties as “hazardous.” These include chemicals like DDT, asbestos or lead carbonates which have severe potential impacts on human health and ecosystems.
Achievements and Ongoing Challenges
By enabling advanced notification and transparency around hazardous chemical movements, the Rotterdam Convention has aided cooperation between nations on controlling and managing risks. As of 2022, 52 chemicals are subject to the PIC procedure, helping countries block unwanted or unmanageable imports.
However the Convention faces criticism for not incorporating more hazardous substances faster, as only the most extremely toxic chemicals meet current criteria for inclusion. This slow pace limits preventative impacts from emerging issues like endocrine disruptors. There is also an ongoing struggle to develop the infrastructure and standards needed to dispose of existing toxic stockpiles in developing countries.
