Chemical products: 14 new products on the PIC list?
Bern, 20.09.2004 - The first meeting of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention began 20 September in Geneva. On the programme: the subjection of 14 new substances to the strict provisions of the Convention, particularly with regard to their export, and a decision on the permanent seat of the Convention Secretariat.
Secretary of State Philippe Roch, Director of the Swiss Agency for the Environment, Forests and Landscape (SAEFL), is chairing the conference. Switzerland’s Environment Minister, Federal Councillor Moritz Leuenberger will open the ministerial part of the conference on 23 September 2004.
The Rotterdam Convention forbids the export of any product that is not on the list annexed to the Convention without the importing country having been informed in advance of the potential dangers associated with the product in question and having given its consent in full knowledge of these dangers (so-called “prior informed consent” or PIC). This list already includes 22 pesticides and five other chemical products. The Parties must now decide on the fate of 14 new products, which include for example asbestos compounds, which are already banned in Switzerland and several other European countries due to their carcinogenic nature.
Learning from the errors of the past
In the words of Philippe Roch, “including the new substances in the PIC list will enable the Parties to the Convention to face up to their responsibilities on the basis of the latest scientific knowledge and experience in the use of the products concerned”. “We must have the courage to learn from the errors of the past”, the SAEFL Director said in his opening address.
The provisions require the Parties to the Convention to inform the Secretariat whenever they take measures to restrict the production or utilisation of a chemical product or a pesticide because of its danger to the environment or health. When two Parties in two different regions ban a product this automatically leads to a demand for its inclusion on the PIC list. It is then up to the Parties to decide whether or not to add the product in question to the list.
The 14 new products proposed for inclusion in the list of Convention
- Binapacryl
- Toxaphene
- Ethylene dichloride
- Ethylene oxide (epoxyethane)
- Monocrotophos;
- DNOC and its salts;
- a severely hazardous pesticide formulation, dustable powder formulations containing benomyl in a concentration of 7% or more, carbofuran in a concentration of 10% or more, thiram in a concentration of 15% or more
- Actinolite asbestos
- Anthophyllite asbestos
- Amosite asbestos
- Italian asbestos (tremolite)
- Tetraethyl lead and
- Tetramethyl lead (tetramel)
- Methyl-parathion
Training programmes have been organised in the developing countries in the framework of the Convention. This training, together with exchanges of information and experience, will make it possible to reduce the risks to the environment and health, and to better protect persons who use these products in agriculture and industry as well as consumers in the developing countries.
Joint candidature of Geneva and Rome
The Conference of Parties must also decide on the permanent seat of the Convention Secretariat. Geneva and Rome, which have together hosted the Secretariat ad interim since 1998, have submitted their joint candidature for the permanent seat. Bonn is also a candidate. The decision is expected on Friday (see press release of 14 September).
Address for enquiries
Additional information:
Philippe Roch
Secretary of State, Conference Chairman
031 323 28 69 / 079 371 62 82
Beat Nobs
Head of Negotiations for the Swiss Delegation
031 323 28 69 / 079 371 62 82
Georg Karlaganis
Head of the Division of Substances, Soil and Biotechnology (SAEFL)
031 323 28 69 / 079 371 62 82
Publisher
Federal Office for the Environment FOEN
https://www.bafu.admin.ch/en
