1. Opening of the meeting.

2. Organizational matters:

Item 1. Opening of the meeting

1. The seventh meeting of the Chemical Review Committee, to be held from 28 March to 1 April 2011 at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, Rome, will be opened at 10 a.m. on Monday, 28 March 2011.

Note by the Secretariat

Note by the Secretariat

The process for drafting decision guidance documents set forth in decision RC-2/2 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 includes the establishment of intersessional task groups for candidate chemicals and pesticide formulations scheduled for consideration by the Chemical Review Committee. To promote efficiency in its work, the Committee at its second meeting established a procedure for dealing with notifications of final regulatory action to ban or severely restrict chemicals. The procedure has been posted on the Convention website (www.pic.int) and will be available to the Committee at its seventh meeting in a compilation of policy guidance and working procedures (UNEP/FAO/RC/CRC.7/INF/4).

Note by the Secretariat

1. Under Article 5 of the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade, when the Secretariat has received at least one notification of final regulatory action to ban or severely restrict a chemical from each of two prior informed consent (PIC) regions containing the information required in Annex I to the Convention, it shall forward the notifications and accompanying documentation to the members of the Chemical Review Committee. The Committee shall review the information provided in such notifications and, in accordance with the criteria set out in Annex II to the Convention, recommend to the Conference of the Parties whether the chemical in question should be included in Annex III to the Convention and whether a decision guidance document should be drafted.

Note by the Secretariat

Addendum

Rationale for the Committee’s conclusion that the European Community’s notification met the requirements of the Convention

Note by the Secretariat

Addendum

Supporting documentation provided by the Syrian Arab Republic

Note by the Secretariat

1. Under Article 5 of the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade, when the Secretariat has received at least one notification of final regulatory action to ban or severely restrict a chemical from each of two prior informed consent (PIC) regions containing the information required in Annex I to the Convention, it shall forward the notifications and accompanying documentation to the members of the Chemical Review Committee. The Committee shall review the information provided in such notifications and, in accordance with the criteria set out in Annex II to the Convention, recommend to the Conference of the Parties whether the chemical in question should be included in Annex III to the Convention and whether a decision guidance document should be drafted.

Note by the Secretariat

Addendum

Rationale for the Committee’s conclusion that the European Community’s notification met the requirements of the Convention

Note by the Secretariat

Addendum

Supporting documentation provided by the Syrian Arab Republic

Note by the Secretariat

1. Under Article 5 of the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade, when the Secretariat has received at least one notification of final regulatory action to ban or severely restrict a chemical from each of two prior informed consent (PIC) regions containing the information required in Annex I to the Convention, it shall forward the notifications and accompanying documentation to the members of the Chemical Review Committee. The Committee shall review the information provided in such notifications and, in accordance with the criteria set out in Annex II to the Convention, recommend to the Conference of the Parties whether the chemical in question should be included in Annex III to the Convention and whether a decision guidance document should be drafted.

Note by the Secretariat

Addendum

Supporting documentation provided by New Zealand

Note by the Secretariat

Addendum

Supporting documentation provided by Benin

Note by the Secretariat

Addendum

Additional supporting documentation provided by Benin The Secretariat has the honour to provide, in the annex to the present note, additional documentation received from Benin to support its notification of final regulatory action for endosulfan as a pesticide. The documentation has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

1. Under Article 5 of the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade, when the Secretariat has received at least one notification of final regulatory action to ban or severely restrict a chemical from each of two prior informed consent (PIC) regions containing the information required in Annex I to the Convention, it shall forward the notifications and accompanying documentation to the members of the Chemical Review Committee. The Committee shall review the information provided in such notifications and, in accordance with the criteria set out in Annex II to the Convention, recommend to the Conference of the Parties whether the chemical in question should be included in Annex III to the Convention and whether a decision guidance document should be drafted.

Note by the Secretariat

Addendum

Supporting documentation provided by Canada The Secretariat has the honour to provide, in the annex to the present note, documentation received from Canada to support its notification of final regulatory action for perfluorooctane sulfonate, its salts and its precursors as industrial chemicals. The documentation has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

Addendum

Supporting documentation provided by the European Union. The Secretariat has the honour to provide, in the annex to the present note, documentation received from European Union to support its notification of final regulatory action for perfluorooctane sulfonate, its salts and its precursors as industrial chemicals. The documentation has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

Addendum

Supporting documentation provided by Japan

Note by the Secretariat

1. Under Article 5 of the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade, when the Secretariat has received at least one notification of final regulatory action to ban or severely restrict a chemical from each of two prior informed consent (PIC) regions containing the information required in Annex I to the Convention, it shall forward the notifications and accompanying documentation to the members of the Chemical Review Committee. The Committee shall review the information provided in such notifications and, in accordance with the criteria set out in Annex II to the Convention, recommend to the Conference of the Parties whether the chemical in question should be included in Annex III to the Convention and whether a decision guidance document should be drafted.

Note by the Secretariat

Addendum

Supporting documentation provided by Canada

The Secretariat has the honour to provide, in the annex to the present note, documentation received from Canada to support its notification of final regulatory action for pentabromodiphenyl ether commercial mixtures as industrial chemicals. The documentation has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

Addendum

Supporting documentation provided by the European Community The Secretariat has the honour to provide, in the annex to the present note, documentation received from the European Community1 to support its notification of final regulatory action for pentabromodiphenyl ether commercial mixtures as industrial chemicals. The documentation has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

Addendum

Supporting documentation provided by Japan

The Secretariat has the honour to provide, in the annex to the present note, documentation received from Japan to support its notifications of final regulatory action for pentabromodiphenyl ether and tetrabromodiphenyl ether as industrial chemicals since both these chemicals are contained in pentabromodiphenyl ether commercial mixtures. The documentation has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

Addendum

Supporting documentation provided by Norway

The Secretariat has the honour to provide, in the annex to the present note, documentation received from Norway to support its notifications of final regulatory action for pentabromodiphenyl ether and tetrabromodiphenyl ether as industrial chemicals since both these chemicals are contained in pentabromodiphenyl ether commercial mixtures. The documentation has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

1. Under Article 5 of the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade, when the Secretariat has received at least one notification of final regulatory action to ban or severely restrict a chemical from each of two prior informed consent (PIC) regions containing the information required in Annex I to the Convention, it shall forward the notifications and accompanying documentation to the members of the Chemical Review Committee. The Committee shall review the information provided in such notifications and, in accordance with the criteria set out in Annex II to the Convention, recommend to the Conference of the Parties whether the chemical in question should be included in Annex III to the Convention and whether a decision guidance document should be drafted.

Note by the Secretariat

Addendum

Supporting documentation provided by Canada The Secretariat has the honour to provide, in the annex to the present note, documentation received from Canada to support its notification of final regulatory action for pentachlorobenzene as an industrial chemical. The documentation has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

Addendum

Supporting documentation provided by Japan The Secretariat has the honour to provide, in the annex to the present note, documentation received from Japan to support its notification of final regulatory action for pentachlorobenzene as an industrial chemical. The documentation has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

Addendum

1. Under Article 5 of the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade, when the Secretariat has received at least one notification of final regulatory action to ban or severely restrict a chemical from each of two prior informed consent (PIC) regions containing the information required in Annex I to the Convention, it shall forward the notifications and accompanying documentation to the members of the Chemical Review Committee. The Committee shall review the information provided in such notifications and, in accordance with the criteria set out in Annex II to the Convention, recommend to the Conference of the Parties whether the chemical in question should be included in Annex III to the Convention and whether a decision guidance document should be drafted.

Note by the Secretariat

Addendum

Supporting documentation provided by Canada

The Secretariat has the honour to provide, in the annex to the present note, documentation received from Canada to support its notification of final regulatory action for octabromodiphenyl ether commercial mixtures as industrial chemicals. The documentation has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

Addendum

Supporting documentation provided by the European Community

The Secretariat has the honour to provide, in the annex to the present note, documentation received from the European Community1 to support its notification of final regulatory action for octabromodiphenyl ether commercial mixtures as industrial chemicals. The documentation has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

Addendum

Supporting documentation provided by Japan

The Secretariat has the honour to provide, in the annex to the present note, documentation received from Japan to support its notifications of final regulatory action for heptabromodiphenyl ether and hexabromodiphenyl ether as industrial chemicals since both these chemicals are contained in octabromodiphenyl ether commercial mixtures. The documentation has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

Addendum

Supporting documentation provided by Norway

The Secretariat has the honour to provide, in the annex to the present note, documentation received from Norway to support its notifications of final regulatory action for heptabromodiphenyl ether and hexabromodiphenyl ether as industrial chemicals since both these chemicals are contained in octabromodiphenyl ether commercial mixtures. The documentation has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

1. Under Article 6 of the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade, any party that is a developing country or country with economy in transition and is experiencing problems caused by a severely hazardous pesticide formulation under conditions of use in its territory may propose the listing of the formulation in Annex III to the Convention. The proposal shall contain the information specified in part 1 of Annex IV to the Convention. When the Secretariat receives such a proposal it shall forward a summary of the information received to all parties. The Secretariat shall also collect the additional information specified in part 2 of Annex IV. When this has been done, the Secretariat shall forward the proposal and related information to the Chemical Review Committee. The Committee shall review the information provided in the proposal and the additional information collected and, in accordance with the criteria set out in part 3 of Annex IV, recommend to the Conference of the Parties whether the severely hazardous pesticide formulation in question should be made subject to the PIC procedure and, accordingly, be listed in Annex III to the Convention.

Note by the Secretariat

Addendum

Supporting documentation provided by Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso, to support its proposal to list Gramoxone Super as a severely hazardous pesticide formulation in Annex III to the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade, has provided a report on a pilot study on agricultural pesticide poisoning in the country.

Note by the Secretariat

Addendum

The Secretariat received replies from 17 parties: Argentina, Australia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, the Czech Republic, El Salvador, the European Union, Hungary, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Norway, Pakistan and the Syrian Arab Republic. The information received from these parties includes both formulation-specific information and information pertaining to the active ingredient.

Note by the Secretariat

Addendum

The Secretariat received replies from five observers: the Berne Declaration, the Central African Economic and Monetary Community/Inter-States Pesticides Committee for Central Africa, the Pesticide Action Network Asia and the Pacific, the United States of America’s Environmental Protection Agency and the World Health Organization. The information received from these observers includes both formulation-specific information and information pertaining to the active ingredient.

Note by the Secretariat

Addendum

Additional information collected by the Secretariat

1. The Secretariat has the honour to provide, in the annex to the present note, documentation pertaining to the proposal by Burkina Faso to list Gramoxone Super as a severely hazardous pesticide formulation in Annex III to the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade. The documentation was collected by the Secretariat in accordance with part 2 of Annex IV to the Convention and includes basic information on the physical, chemical and toxicological properties of paraquat, which is the active ingredient contained in Gramoxone Super. The documentation set out in the annex is presented as collected, without formal editing by the Secretariat.

Note by the Secretariat

Addendum

Additional information received by the Secretariat

Additional information received by the Secretariat The Secretariat has the honour to provide, in the annex to the present note, additional information received regarding the proposal to list Gramoxone Super as a severely hazardous pesticide formulation in Annex III to the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade. The documentation set out in the annex is presented as received, without formal editing by the Secretariat.

Note by the Secretariat

Addendum Additional information received by the Secretariat

The Secretariat has the honour to provide, in the annex to the present note, additional information received from the Central African Economic and Monetary Community/Inter-States Pesticides Committee for Central Africa regarding the proposal to list Gramoxone Super as a severely hazardous pesticide formulation in Annex III to the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade. The documentation set out in the annex is presented as received, without formal editing by the Secretariat.

Note by the Secretariat

1. Page 20 of the PDF file, last line (English translation of Annex 1 to the form) For valid for three (3) months read valid for three (3) years

2. Page 22 of the PDF file, line 24 (English translation of Annex 1 to the form) After the least used insert (4.5%)

Note by the Secretariat

1. At its fifth and sixth meetings, the Chemical Review Committee reviewed notifications of final regulatory action for azinphos-methyl from Canada and Norway, along with the supporting documentation referenced therein. Taking into account the requirements set out in Annex II to the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade, the Committee concluded that the requirements of that Annex had been met.

Note by the Secretariat

1. The process for drafting decision guidance documents set out in decision RC-2/2 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 provides for the creation of task groups to work intersessionally to evaluate notifications of final regulatory action to ban or severely restrict chemicals. The Chemical Review Committee developed a paper to provide guidance to such task groups with the understanding that it was a work in progress that could be amended in the light of experience gained. An intersessional drafting group was established at the Committee’s sixth meeting with the mandate to develop the guidance document further.

Note by the Secretariat

1. The Chemical Review Committee developed a working paper on the application of criterion (b) of Annex II to the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade. The purpose of the paper is to assist the Committee in judging whether a notification of final regulatory action meets those criteria. The working paper was originally developed by the Committee at its first meeting with the understanding that it would continue to evolve in the light of future experience. It was amended to include further examples based on the experience gained at subsequent meetings of the Committee. An intersessional drafting group was established at the Committee’s sixth meeting with the mandate to further develop the working paper.