Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides: International Conference in Geneva
Bern, 05.10.2006 - The third Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam (PIC) Convention will take place in Geneva from 9 to 13 October. The objective of the convention is to ensure, that countries are informed before they agree to import hazardous chemicals or pesticides. Switzerland ratified the convention in 2002. The topic of the conference is the complete implementation of the Convention.
At the third Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam (PIC) Convention, there will be discussions on what possibilities there are for complete implementation of the Convention, and what challenges these will imply. One of the important topics will be risk assessment for chemical substances. The Swiss delegation, headed by Bruno Oberle (Director of the FOEN) will support the idea that risk assessment for the Rotterdam Convention should take on the scientific principles and procedures of other international agreements (e.g. the Montreal Protocol on Substances that deplete the Ozone Layer and the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants).
At the third Conference of the Parties to the PIC Convention, there should also be discussions of how to deal with Parties to the Convention who have have not met their obligations that arise from the Convention. Switzerland is in favour of firm measures and transparent, appropriate procedures – an approach which this country adopts generally in issues of international environmental law.
The proposal to include chrysotile asbestos in annex III of the Convention will lead to controversial debates. Switzerland will support the inclusion of chrysotile asbestos in annex III of the Convention, so that countries are informed before they agree to import this hazardous material. In Switzerland, asbestos has been banned since 1989.
At the five-day conference, the Parties to the Convention will also adopt the working programme and the budget for 2007 / 2008 and may discuss a new financial mechanism, which has been called for by some developing countries.
Address for enquiries
Thomas Kolly, International Division FOEN, +44 79 828 48 45
Georg Karlaganis, Substances, Soil and Biotechnology Division FOEN, +44 79 415 99 62
Links
Publisher
Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications
https://www.uvek.admin.ch/uvek/en/home.html
