Introduction

1. In the light of the ongoing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, it was not possible to hold the sixteenth meeting of the Chemical Review Committee under the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade face to face at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Rome, as had originally been planned. Instead, the Bureau decided that, as an exceptional measure owing to the pandemic, the meeting would be held online from 8 to 11 September 2020.

The Chemical Review Committee,

Recalling paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 7 of the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade,

Recalling also its decision CRC-15/2, adopted at its fifteenth meeting, in which it recommended, in accordance with paragraph 6 of Article 5 of the Convention, that the Conference of the Parties list decabromodiphenyl ether (CAS No. 1163-19-5) in Annex III to the Convention as an industrial chemical,

The Chemical Review Committee,

Recalling Article 5 of the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade,

Recalling also paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 7 of the Convention,

1. Opening of the meeting.

2. Organizational matters:

Item 1

Opening of the meeting

1. The sixteenth meeting of the Chemical Review Committee will be held from 8 to 11 September 2020. Owing to the current coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, it is not possible for participants to meet face to face in Rome as originally planned. The meeting will therefore, as an exceptional measure, be conducted online. The meeting will be opened by the Chair of the Committee, Ms. Noluzuko Gwayi (South Africa), at 1 p.m. (UTC+2) on Tuesday, 8 September 2020.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. By its decision RC-2/2, the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade adopted a process for the preparation of draft decision guidance documents, which was subsequently amended by decisions RC-6/3 and RC-7/3. In accordance with the process, task groups are to be established for chemicals and severely hazardous pesticide formulations scheduled for consideration by the Chemical Review Committee. For ease of reference, the procedure is set out in the handbook of working procedures and policy guidance for the Chemical Review Committee.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. At its fifteenth meeting, the Chemical Review Committee reviewed notifications of final regulatory action for decabromodiphenyl ether submitted by Canada, Japan and Norway, together with the supporting documentation referred to therein, and concluded that the notifications met all the criteria of Annex II to the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade.

Note by the Secretariat

1. At its fifteenth meeting, the Chemical Review Committee reviewed notifications of final regulatory action for decabromodiphenyl ether submitted by Canada, Japan and Norway, together with the supporting documentation referred to therein, and concluded that the notifications met all the criteria of Annex II to the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. At its fourteenth meeting, the Chemical Review Committee reviewed notifications of final regulatory action for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), its salts and PFOA-related compounds submitted by Norway and Canada, together with the supporting documentation referred to therein, and concluded that the notifications met all the criteria of Annex II to the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade.

Note by the Secretariat

1. At its fourteenth meeting, the Chemical Review Committee reviewed notifications of final regulatory action for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), its salts and PFOA-related compounds submitted by Canada and Norway, together with the supporting documentation referred to therein, and concluded that the notifications met all the criteria of Annex II to the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade.

Introduction

1. In the light of the ongoing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, it was not possible to hold the sixteenth meeting of the Chemical Review Committee under the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade face to face at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Rome, as had originally been planned. Instead, the Bureau decided that, as an exceptional measure owing to the pandemic, the meeting would be held online from 8 to 11 September 2020.