Text of the Convention

The text of the Rotterdam Convention was adopted by the Conference of the Plenipotentiaries (Rotterdam, 10 September 1998). Since its adoption, the Rotterdam Convention has seen a number of significant developments, including amendments thereto.

The text on this website is published for information purposes only. It does not substitute the original authentic texts of the Rotterdam Convention and amendments thereto as deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations acting as the Depository of the Convention. Certified true copies of the Convention, or more generally, access to amendments and modifications of certified true copies, rectifications of authentic texts or any other relevant formalities circulated under the cover of depositary notifications are available through the Treaty Section and on the web site of the Treaty Section of the United Nations at the following URL address: https://treaties.un.org/.

Additional Annexes

In 2004, the first meeting of the Conference of the Parties adopted Annex VI, setting out the arbitration and conciliation procedures for the purposes of Article 20 of the Convention on settlement of disputes.

The ninth meeting of the Conference of the Parties then adopted in 2019, a new Annex VII on procedures and mechanisms on compliance in accordance with Article 17 of the Convention. Further information on procedures and mechanisms on compliance is available here.

Amendments to Annex III

Since the adoption of the Convention, the Conference of the Parties has adopted a series of decisions to amend Annex III to the Convention to list additional chemicals and make them subject to the Prior Informed Consent Procedure. Further information on the Annex III chemicals is available here.

Convention text

Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade

Text and Annexes
(revised in 2025)

The 2025 revised text of the Convention includes the decisions adopted by the twelfth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to amend Annex III to the Convention to list carbosulfan; and fenthion (ultra-low volume formulations at or above 640g active ingredient/L).

The Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish language texts of the amendments adopted in 2025 at the twelfth meeting of the Conference of the Parties are currently being finalized and will be made available on the Convention website shortly. The 2019 and 2023 revised texts are available while the updates are being finalized.