Enhancing the effectiveness of the Rotterdam Convention

Parties are discussing efforts and proposals to enhance the effectiveness of the Rotterdam Convention, including the process for listing chemicals in Annex III to the Convention.

In an attempt to improve the effectiveness of the Convention, the seventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties mandated an intersessional working group to carry out intersessional work on the process of listing chemicals in Annex III to the Convention and to develop options for improving the effectiveness of the listing process and information flows. The work carried out between the seventh and eighth meetings of the Conference of the Parties pursuant to decision RC-7/5 is described here.

At its eighth meeting, the Conference of the Parties took note of the various options for enhancing the effectiveness of the Rotterdam Convention, including by improving the prior informed consent procedure, improving the listing process and considering cross-cutting issues such as the provision of technical and financial assistance, and agreed on further work in the intersessional period (RC-8/8). Information on the intersessional work pursuant to decision RC-8/8 is provided here.

At its ninth meeting, in decision RC-9/6, the Conference of the Parties invited Parties to further analyze and develop proposals, including in cooperation with other Parties, to enhance the effectiveness of the Rotterdam Convention, in particular to improve the listing process. The Conference of the Parties agreed on a number of activities in the areas of information exchange, designation of customs codes, collection of information on the impact of listing and not listing chemicals under the Convention, and on the work of the Chemical Review Committee. These activities have been incorporated into the various programme of work activities under the Convention.

At its tenth meeting, in decision RC-10/10 , the Conference of the Parties took note of the activities undertaken and welcomed the dissemination strategy for obtaining and using information and its use in capacity-building and technical assistance activities.

At its eleventh meeting, by decision RC-11/4, the Conference of the Parties urged Parties and observers to provide information to the Secretariat related to the impacts of listing chemicals in Annex III, including the costs of inaction; benefits and challenges to introducing alternatives to chemicals recommended for listing; and challenges in implementing legislative and administrative measures for the sound management of chemicals recommended for listing in Annex III. Information on the intersessional work pursuant to decision RC-11/4 is available here.

In addition, the Conference of the Parties has considered a number of proposals to amend the Convention, presented by Parties with a view to enhancing the effectiveness of the Rotterdam Convention. Information on these proposals is available here.