News Features

Countdown to the 20th meeting of the Chemical Review Committee
Just before the start of the 20th meeting of the Chemical Review Committee (CRC), we talked to Christine Fuell, Senior Technical Officer and Team Leader in FAO’s Plant Production and Protection Division (NSP) and Executive Secretary ad interim of the Rotterdam Convention.

Countdown to the 20th meeting of the Chemical Review Committee

Countdown to the 20th meeting of the Chemical Review Committee

13/09/2024

Just before the start of the 20th meeting of the Chemical Review Committee (CRC), we talked to Christine Fuell, Senior Technical Officer and Team Leader in FAO’s Plant Production and Protection Division (NSP) and Executive Secretary ad interim of the Rotterdam Convention.

The Chemical Review Committee in a nutshell?

The Chemicals Review Committee (CRC) is composed of 31 government-designated experts in chemicals management, appointed by the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Convention, the highest authority of the Rotterdam Convention, which consists of all Parties to the Convention. The CRC includes members from different regions to ensure a balanced representation of developed and developing countries or countries with an economy in transition. However, members are not representing their countries but their expertise in the field of chemicals management.

The Committee reviews final regulatory actions (FRAs) related to pesticides and chemicals taken by parties to the Convention and notified to the Secretariat. These national bans or severe restrictions taken by parties must be based on a risk evaluation, and their aim must be the protection of human health or the environment.

What will this Chemical Review Committee meeting be about?

The 20th meeting of the Chemical Review Committee, on 17-20 September 2024 in Rome, is scheduled to review up to 33 notifications of final regulatory actions – a number never seen before! In addition, the Committee will also review four proposals for severely hazardous pesticide formulations. These are proposals made by developing countries or countries with an economy in transition that face significant health or environmental problems with these pesticide formulations under their specific conditions of use, including social, economic and climatic. And the Committee will also continue reviewing notifications of final regulatory action on chemicals such as carbaryl, chlorfenvinphos, ethion, methidathion and thiodicarb, which were discussed but not completed in the previous meeting. According to the Rules of Procedure, such items need to be again on the agenda of the next meeting.

Finally, the Committee will discuss draft decision guidance documents (DGDs) for chlorpyrifos and mercury, already recommended for listing in Annex III at the previous meeting. The expectation is to finalize these draft DGDs for consideration by the Conference of the Parties at its 12th meeting (COP12) in May 2025, who will then decide on the listing in Annex III.

What about this pesticide chlorpyrifos to be discussed by COP in 2025?

Chlorpyrifos is an organophosphate pesticide, an insecticide commonly used in agriculture to control pests on a variety of crops. It has been linked to adverse health effects, including neurodevelopmental issues in children and potential risks to farmworkers and wildlife. Various countries have taken regulatory actions to ban or severely restrict the use of chlorpyrifos.

The inclusion of chlorpyrifos in Annex III would make it subject to the so-called Prior Informed Consent or PIC procedure, enabling all Parties to take an informed decision on whether they want to use, and thus potentially import the pesticide. Such global cooperation aims to manage and mitigate risks, protecting both human health and the environment.

It’s going to be a busy week!

We will organize a session of an interactive game aimed at raising awareness on the objectives of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions developed by the Secretariat to loosen up a bit. The game introduces the topic of chemical safety to a younger audience and is based on the idea of escape games.

This will be the fun part of the meeting.


Preparations are underway for the 20th meeting of the CRC
The twentieth meeting of the Chemical Review Committee of the Rotterdam Convention will take place from 17 to 20 September 2024, at FAO Headquarters in Rome, Italy, back-to-back with the twentieth meeting of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee of the Stockholm Convention. Pre-meeting...

Preparations are underway for the 20th meeting of the CRC

Preparations are underway for the 20th meeting of the CRC
 
Rotterdam Convention COP Bureau meeting report now available!
The Rotterdam Convention COP 12 Bureau meeting took place in Geneva on 15 May 2024.

Rotterdam Convention COP Bureau meeting report now available!

Rotterdam Convention COP Bureau meeting report now available!
 
Online consultation on ensuring exporters comply with decisions in import responses
The objective of this online consultation is to invite interested exporting Parties to identify and communicate to challenges being faced with ensuring that exporters within their jurisdiction comply with decisions in import responses, as required under Article 11 of the Rotterdam Convention.

Online consultation on ensuring exporters comply with decisions in import responses

Online consultation on ensuring exporters comply with decisions in import responses
 
Online consultation to identify challenges being faced with the transmission of import responses
The objective of this online consultation is to collect information from Parties about any challenges importing Parties may be facing related to the transmission of import responses in accordance with Article 10 of the Rotterdam Convention.

Online consultation to identify challenges being faced with the transmission of import responses

Online consultation to identify challenges being faced with the transmission of import responses
 
Publication of the 59th edition of the Rotterdam Convention PIC Circular
59th edition of the Rotterdam Convention PIC Circular is now available! The PIC Circular is a key document in the implementation of the Rotterdam Convention for the operation of the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) procedure and for the exchange of information on hazardous chemicals in international tra...

Publication of the 59th edition of the Rotterdam Convention PIC Circular

Publication of the 59th edition of the Rotterdam Convention PIC Circular
 
Online briefings on the outcomes of the second meeting of the Rotterdam Convention Compliance Committee
The objective of this online briefing is to inform Parties to the Rotterdam Convention, observers and other stakeholders on the outcomes of second meeting of the Rotterdam Convention’s Compliance Committee (RCCC-2).

Online briefings on the outcomes of the second meeting of the Rotterdam Convention Compliance Committee

Online briefings on the outcomes of the second meeting of the Rotterdam Convention Compliance Committee
 
Rotterdam COP Bureau meets in Geneva on 15 May 2024
The Bureau members will discuss the provisional agenda and preparations of the twelfth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention in 2025.

Rotterdam COP Bureau meets in Geneva on 15 May 2024

Rotterdam COP Bureau meets in Geneva on 15 May 2024
 
Technical Assistance Interactive map – Strengthening capacities through global information sharing
The interactive map, provides a visual overview of the technical assistance of the Convention. The map allows users to explore the activities implemented in the PIC regions, compare figures and activities in order to have a comprehensive overview of the Convention's work.

Technical Assistance Interactive map – Strengthening capacities through global information sharing

Technical Assistance Interactive map – Strengthening capacities through global information sharing
 
Second meeting of the Rotterdam Convention Compliance Committee equips Parties with more tools
The international trade in chemicals controlled by the Rotterdam Convention is now being systematically collected and analysed on the challenges being faced by both importing and exporting Parties.

Second meeting of the Rotterdam Convention Compliance Committee equips Parties with more tools

Second meeting of the Rotterdam Convention Compliance Committee equips Parties with more tools

For the first time, information about international trade in chemicals controlled by the Rotterdam Convention is now being systematically collected and analysed on the challenges being faced by both importing and exporting Parties. A valuable source of information that feeds into other work under the Convention, the analyses done by the Compliance Committee has led to a better identification of Parties’ needs and recommendations about how technical assistance could be tailored to address Parties’ needs.

As a priority, the Committee considered the case of one Party facing difficulties with designating its contacts under the Convention. The Committee agreed to continue communications with and support to this Party to lead to the designation of its national authority, which is the foundation enabling Parties to exchange information to control the international trade of hazardous chemicals and pesticides.

The Committee has been monitoring the work of similar bodies and explored lessons from implementation and compliance bodies of other multilateral environmental agreements to inform its work. This fed into the development of a template that Parties could use when making submissions of non-compliance to the Committee, to facilitate this process and make help available to Parties. The template has been recommended for adoption by the governing body of the Convention, as well as a recommendation to encourage Parties to use this resource.

Mr. Osvaldo Alvarez-Perez, Chair of the Committee, highlighted:   
“The Committee's role primarily involves facilitating communication and providing a platform for parties to express their challenges, potentially providing mediation or facilitate discussions among relevant stakeholders to seek collaborative approaches in addressing the challenges at hand”.

Over three days, Committee members and observers from governments and non-governmental organizations met in FAO headquarters, one of the seats of the Rotterdam Convention Secretariat. This situation helps to provide tailormade support to Parties, with a team of experts in the Plant Production and Protection Division supporting Parties with pesticides issues in Rome and a team within the United Nations Environment Programme in Geneva supporting Parties in relation to industrial chemicals.

The Committee considered systemic issues of general compliance with implementing the obligations under the Convention and tackled a wide range of matters including relating to laws, notifications under the Convention and information exchange, as well as related to cooperation with the Implementation and Compliance Committee of the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal.

The second meeting of the Compliance Committee (CC-2) of the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade took place in Rome, Italy, from 19 to 21 March 2024. Hosted at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The members of the Committee worked tirelessly to provide support to Parties dealing with individual compliance issues and with systemic issues with obligations under the Convention.

NOTES

The Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for certain hazardous chemicals and pesticides in international trade is jointly administered by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The 166 Parties to this legally binding Convention share responsibility and cooperate to safely manage chemicals in international trade. To date, 55 hazardous chemicals and pesticides are listed in its Annex III, making their international trade subject to a prior informed consent (PIC) procedure.

The Rotterdam Convention Compliance Committee deals with specific submissions relating to the compliance of an individual Party and reviews systemic issues of general compliance.

The Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Conventions (BRS Secretariat) brings together three leading multilateral environment agreements that share the common objective of protecting human health and the environment from hazardous chemicals and waste.

The Rotterdam Convention Compliance Committee benefits from generous financial support provided by Switzerland.

For information on the Rotterdam Convention Compliance Committee, contact: Ms. Yvonne Ewang-Sanvincenti, Legal Officer, Yvonne.ewang-sanvincent@un.org and Mr. Mario Yarto, Agricultural  Officer, mario.yarto@fao.org

For media inquiries, contact: Ms. Asana Greenstreet, BRS Public Information Officer, asana.greenstreet@un.org

Calling all Parties to respond the BRS Secretariat with their technical assistance needs by 31 May 2024
Questionnaires have been sent to Parties, to assess their technical assistance needs, as well as abilities to offer technical assistance.

Calling all Parties to respond the BRS Secretariat with their technical assistance needs by 31 May 2024

Calling all Parties to respond the BRS Secretariat with their technical assistance needs by 31 May 2024
 
BRS Secretariat at UNEA-6
The Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions will participate in the upcoming UNEA-6 to show case the contributions of the BRS conventions to tackle the triple planetary crisis and to attain the SDGs, while highlighting ongoing cooperation with UNEP.

BRS Secretariat at UNEA-6

BRS Secretariat at UNEA-6
 
CRC-19 meeting report in languages
The report of the nineteenth meeting of the Chemical Review Committee is now available in all 6 UN languages.

CRC-19 meeting report in languages

CRC-19 meeting report in languages
 
Orientation workshop for members of the Chemical Review Committee (CRC)
The Secretariat of the Rotterdam Convention is organizing a three-day face-to-face workshop to orient members of the CRC, in preparation for the intersessional work building up to the twentieth annual meeting of the Committee (CRC-20).

Orientation workshop for members of the Chemical Review Committee (CRC)

Orientation workshop for members of the Chemical Review Committee (CRC)
 
Inception workshop in Malaysia to enhance capacity in monitoring pesticide use in the field
The national project on pesticide use and incident monitoring aims to enhance capacity in monitoring pesticide use in the field, identifying those that cause severe health problems in Malaysia.

Inception workshop in Malaysia to enhance capacity in monitoring pesticide use in the field

Inception workshop in Malaysia to enhance capacity in monitoring pesticide use in the field
 
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