Onzième réunion de la Conférence des Parties à la Convention de Rotterdam

1. Opening of the meeting.

2. Adoption of the agenda.

3. Organizational matters:

Item 1

1. Opening of the meeting.

1. The eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade will be held in Geneva from 1 to 12 May 2023, back to back with the sixteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal and the eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. The meetings will feature joint sessions on joint issues. The meetings will be opened at 10 a.m. on Monday, 1 May 2023 by the three presidents of the conferences of the Parties.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. At its eleventh meeting, the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade is expected to elect the officers of the Conference of the Parties who will serve during its twelfth meeting.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. At its first meeting, in decision RC-1/1, the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade adopted its rules of procedure, as contained in the annex to that decision, with the exception of the second sentence of paragraph 1 of rule 45, which it agreed to maintain in square brackets to indicate that the sentence had not been agreed on and was of no effect.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. In decision RC-10/4, the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade, among other things:

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. Since the report provided to the tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade, the Chemical Review Committee has held its seventeenth meeting, online, from 20 to 24 September 2021, and its eighteenth meeting, in Rome, from 19 to 23 September 2022.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. Pursuant to Article 5 of the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade, the Chemical Review Committee, at its thirteenth meeting, in decision CRC-13/1, recommended that acetochlor be listed in Annex III to the Convention. Subsequently, at its fourteenth meeting, in decision CRC-14/1, the Committee, in accordance with Article 7 of the Rotterdam Convention, adopted a draft decision guidance document on acetochlor (UNEP/FAO/RC/CRC.14/3/Rev.1) and decided to forward it, together with the related tabular summary of comments (UNEP/FAO/RC/CRC.14/INF/6/Rev.1), to the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention for its consideration. The draft decision guidance document is set out in the addendum to the present note (UNEP/FAO/RC/COP.11/6/Add.1) for consideration by the Conference of the Parties.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in document UNEP/FAO/RC/COP.11/6, the Chemical Review Committee, at its fourteenth meeting, in decision CRC-14/1, adopted a draft decision guidance document on acetochlor. The draft decision guidance document is set out in the annex to the present note for consideration by the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade. The annex has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. Pursuant to Article 5 of the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade, the Chemical Review Committee, at its eleventh meeting, in decision CRC-11/4, recommended that carbosulfan be listed in Annex III to the Convention. Subsequently, at its twelfth meeting, in decision CRC-12/2, the Committee, in accordance with Article 7 of the Rotterdam Convention, adopted a draft decision guidance document on carbosulfan (UNEP/FAO/RC/CRC.12/3/Rev.1) and decided to forward it, together with the related tabular summary of comments (UNEP/FAO/RC/CRC.12/INF/7/Rev.1), to the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention for its consideration. The draft decision guidance document is set out in the addendum to the present note (UNEP/FAO/RC/COP.11/7/Add.1) for consideration by the Conference of the Parties.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in document UNEP/FAO/RC/COP.11/7, the Chemical Review Committee, at its twelfth meeting, in decision CRC-12/2, adopted a draft decision guidance document on carbosulfan. The draft decision guidance document is set out in the annex to the present note for consideration by the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade. The annex has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. Pursuant to Article 5 of the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade, the Chemical Review Committee, at its first meeting, recommended that chrysotile asbestos be listed in Annex III to the Convention (UNEP/FAO/RC/CRC.1/28, annex I, section B). Subsequently, at its second meeting, the Committee, in accordance with Article 7 of the Convention, agreed on the text of a draft decision guidance document on chrysotile asbestos (UNEP/FAO/RC/CRC.2/20, para. 106 and annex I) and decided to forward it to the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention for its consideration. The draft decision guidance document is set out in the addendum to the present note (UNEP/FAO/RC/COP.11/8/Add.1) for consideration by the Conference of the Parties.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in document UNEP/FAO/RC/COP.11/8, the Chemical Review Committee, at its second meeting, agreed on the text of a draft decision guidance document on chrysotile asbestos. The draft decision guidance document is set out in the annex to the present note for consideration by the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade. The annex has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. Pursuant to Article 6 of the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade, the Chemical Review Committee, at its ninth meeting, in decision CRC-9/4, recommended the listing of fenthion (ultra-low-volume (ULV) formulations at or above 640 g active ingredient/L) as a severely hazardous pesticide formulation in Annex III to the Convention. Subsequently, at its tenth meeting, in decision CRC-10/2, the Committee, in accordance with Article 7 of the Rotterdam Convention, adopted a draft decision guidance document on fenthion (ULV formulations at or above 640 g active ingredient/L) (UNEP/FAO/RC/CRC.10/3) and decided to forward it, together with the related tabular summary of comments (UNEP/FAO/RC/CRC.10/INF/5), to the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention for its consideration. The draft decision guidance document is set out in the addendum to the present note (UNEP/FAO/RC/COP.11/9/Add.1) for consideration by the Conference of the Parties.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in document UNEP/FAO/RC/COP.11/9, the Chemical Review Committee, at its tenth meeting, in decision CRC-10/2, adopted a draft decision guidance document on fenthion (ultra low volume formulations at or above 640 g active ingredient/L). The draft decision guidance document is set out in the annex to the present note for consideration by the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade. The annex has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. Pursuant to Article 5 of the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade, the Chemical Review Committee, at its seventeenth meeting, reviewed notifications of final regulatory action for iprodione in the pesticides category submitted by the European Union and Mozambique, together with the supporting documentation referred to therein. Taking into account each of the specific criteria set out in Annex II to the Convention, the Committee concluded that the notifications had met the criteria of Annex II. Accordingly, the Committee agreed, in decision CRC-17/1, to recommend to the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention that iprodione (CAS No. 36734-19-7) be listed in Annex III to the Convention as a pesticide and proceeded to prepare a draft decision guidance document.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in document UNEP/FAO/RC/COP.11/10, the Chemical Review Committee, at its eighteenth meeting, in decision CRC-18/1, adopted a draft decision guidance document on iprodione. The draft decision guidance document is set out in the annex to the present note for the consideration of the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade. The annex has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. Pursuant to Articles 6 and 7 of the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade, the Chemical Review Committee, at its eighth meeting, in decision CRC-8/7, recommended the listing of liquid formulations (emulsifiable concentrate and soluble concentrate) containing paraquat dichloride at or above 276 g/L, corresponding to paraquat ion at or above 200 g/L, as severely hazardous pesticide formulations in Annex III to the Convention; adopted a draft decision guidance document for those formulations; and decided to forward it, together with the related tabular summary of comments, to the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention for its consideration. The draft decision guidance document is set out in the addendum to the present note (UNEP/FAO/RC/COP.11/11/Add.1) for consideration by the Conference of the Parties.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in document UNEP/FAO/RC/COP.11/11, the Chemical Review Committee, at its eighth meeting, in decision CRC-8/7, adopted a draft decision guidance document on liquid formulations (emulsifiable concentrate and soluble concentrate) containing paraquat dichloride at or above 276 g/L, corresponding to paraquat ion at or above 200 g/L. The draft decision guidance document is set out in the annex to the present note for consideration by the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade. The annex has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. Pursuant to Article 5 of the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade, the Chemical Review Committee, at its seventeenth meeting, reviewed notifications of final regulatory action for terbufos in the pesticides category submitted by Canada and Mozambique, together with the supporting documentation referred to therein. Taking into account each of the specific criteria set out in Annex II to the Convention, the Committee concluded that the notifications had met the criteria of Annex II. Accordingly, the Committee agreed, in decision CRC-17/2, to recommend to the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention that terbufos (CAS No. 13071-79-9) be listed in Annex III to the Convention as a pesticide and proceeded to prepare a draft decision guidance document.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in document UNEP/FAO/RC/COP.11/12, the Chemical Review Committee, at its eighteenth meeting, in decision CRC-18/2, adopted a draft decision guidance document on terbufos. The draft decision guidance document is set out in the annex to the present note for consideration by the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade. The annex has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. In decision RC-9/6, on enhancing the effectiveness of the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade, the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention invited Parties to further analyse and develop proposals, including in cooperation with other Parties, to enhance the effectiveness of the Rotterdam Convention, in particular to improve the listing process.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. As is mentioned in document UNEP/FAO/RC/COP.11/13, annex I to the present note sets out a proposal to amend Article 16 of the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade, on technical assistance. The proposal was submitted in October 2016 by Botswana, Cameroon, Eswatini, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe for consideration by the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention at its eighth meeting. For the convenience of Parties, annex II to the present note shows the proposed amendment to the current text of Article 16, with changes tracked. The explanatory note from the Parties proposing the amendment, in English only, is available in document UNEP/FAO/RC/COP.8/INF/40, and a compilation of comments relating to the proposed amendment received from Parties prior to the eighth meeting of the Conference of the Parties is available in document UNEP/FAO/RC/COP.8/INF/41.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. As is indicated in document UNEP/FAO/RC/COP.11/13, on 17 October 2022, the Secretariat received a proposal by Australia, Mali and Switzerland to amend Articles 7, 10, 11 and 22 of the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade and to add a new Annex VIII to the Convention, for consideration by the Conference of the Parties at its eleventh meeting. The proposal, which subsequently became co sponsored by Burkina Faso and Ghana and which is set out in the annex to the present note, is presented without formal editing. An explanatory note by the proponents is set out in document UNEP/FAO/RC/COP.11/INF/14.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. In decision RC-10/11, the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade adopted the programme of work of the Compliance Committee for the biennium 2022–2023, as set out in the annex to that decision.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. In section I of decisions BC-15/21, RC-10/12 and SC 10/15 on technical assistance, the conferences of the Parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade and the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants took note of the report on the needs of developing country Parties and Parties with economies in transition for technical assistance and technology transfer, the database summarizing technical assistance needs and the report on the implementation of the technical assistance plan for the period 2018–2021, and welcomed the technical assistance plan for the implementation of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions for the period 2022–2025.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. In decisions BC-15/24, RC-10/13 and SC-10/20, on cooperation and coordination with the Minamata Convention on Mercury, taken in response to decisions MC-3/11 and MC-4/9 which were adopted by the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury at its third and fourth meetings, the conferences of the Parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade and the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants affirmed the importance of continued cooperation on programmatic synergies, of the use of the task force between the two secretariats and the United Nations Environment Programme Chemicals and Health Branch, and of the possibility for the Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions to provide secretariat support to the Minamata Convention on a cost recovery basis, in accordance with the programme of work and budget of the conventions for each biennium.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. In decisions BC-15/25, RC-10/14 and SC-10/21, on international cooperation and coordination, the conferences of the Parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade and the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, respectively, requested the Executive Secretary:

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. In decisions BC-15/26, RC-10/15 and SC-10/22, on the clearing-house mechanism for information exchange, the conferences of the Parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade and the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, respectively, requested the Secretariat, subject to the availability of resources, to continue the work to implement the strategy of the joint clearing-house mechanism in a gradual and cost-effective manner and to implement the activities of the workplan for the implementation of the joint clearing-house mechanism for the biennium 2022–2023 in accordance with the programmes of work and budgets for the conventions for that biennium.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. In decisions BC-13/20, RC-8/13 and SC-8/23, on mainstreaming gender, the conferences of the Parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade and the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, respectively, welcomed the Gender Action Plan of the Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions and the report on the implementation of the Plan (UNEP/CHW.13/INF/46–UNEP/FAO/RC/COP.8/INF/32–UNEP/POPS/COP.8/INF/49, annex) and requested the Secretariat to continue its efforts in respect of gender mainstreaming in its activities, projects and programmes.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. In decisions BC-15/27, RC-10/16 and SC-10/23, on synergies in preventing and combating illegal traffic and trade in hazardous chemicals and wastes, the conferences of the Parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade and the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants encouraged Parties to provide information to the Secretariat about best practices for preventing and combating illegal traffic and trade in the chemicals and wastes covered by the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions, including the texts of any measures that have been adopted by them for that purpose.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. During the 2022 face-to-face segments of their meetings, the conferences of the Parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade and the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants adopted identical decisions entitled “From science to action”, in which, among other things, they took note of the information on progress in the action by Parties and others to promote the implementation of the road map for further engaging Parties and other stakeholders in informed dialogue for enhanced science-based action in the implementation of the conventions, as provided in the note by the Secretariat entitled “From science to action”, and encouraged Parties and others to continue to undertake action that promotes the implementation of the road map.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. In decisions BC-15/30, RC-10/19 and SC-10/26, on programmes of work and budgets for the biennium 2022–2023, the conferences of the Parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade and the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants:

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. In decision RC-9/14, on the memorandum of understanding between the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade, the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention adopted the memorandum of understanding set out in the annex to that decision and requested the President of the Conference of the Parties, on behalf of the Conference of the Parties, the Director-General of FAO and the Executive Director of UNEP to sign the memorandum of understanding during or after the closure of the ninth meeting of the Conference of the Parties.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. Meetings of the conferences of the Parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade and the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants are to take place at the seat(s) of the Secretariat, unless the conferences of the Parties decide otherwise or other appropriate arrangements are made by the Secretariat, in consultation with the Parties.