Douzième réunion de la Conférence des Parties à la Convention de Rotterdam

1. Opening of the meeting.

2. Adoption of the agenda.

3. Organizational matters:

Item 1

Opening of the meeting

1. The twelfth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade will be held in Geneva from 28 April to 9 May 2025, back to back with the seventeenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal and the twelfth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. The meetings will feature joint sessions on joint issues. The meetings will be opened at 10 a.m. on Monday, 28 April 2025, by the three presidents of the conferences of the Parties.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. At its twelfth meeting, the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade is expected to elect the officers of the Conference of the Parties who will serve during its thirteenth meeting.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. At its first meeting, in decision RC-1/1, 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 its rules of procedure, as contained in the annex to that decision, with the exception of the second sentence of paragraph 1 of rule 45, which it agreed to maintain in square brackets to indicate that the sentence had not been agreed on and was of no effect.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. The present note contains information on the implementation of the mandate established by decision RC-11/1, on the status of implementation of the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade, which was adopted by the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention at its eleventh meeting.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. Since the report provided to the eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade, the Chemical Review Committee has held its nineteenth meeting, in Rome, from 3 to 6 October 2023, and its twentieth meeting, in Rome, from 17 to 20 September 2024.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. Pursuant to Article 5 of the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade, the Chemical Review Committee, at its thirteenth meeting, in decision CRC-13/1, recommended that acetochlor be listed in Annex III to the Convention. Subsequently, at its fourteenth meeting, in accordance with Article 7 of the Convention, the Committee, by decision CRC-14/1, adopted a draft decision guidance document on acetochlor (UNEP/FAO/RC/CRC.14/3/Rev.1) and decided to forward it, together with the related tabular summary of comments (UNEP/FAO/RC/CRC.14/INF/6/Rev.1), to the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention for its consideration. The draft decision guidance document is set out in the addendum to the present note (UNEP/FAO/RC/COP.12/6/Add.1) for consideration by the Conference of the Parties.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in document UNEP/FAO/RC/COP.12/6, the Chemical Review Committee, at its fourteenth meeting, by decision CRC-14/1, adopted a draft decision guidance document on acetochlor. The draft decision guidance document is set out in the annex to the present note for consideration by the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade. The annex has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. Pursuant to Article 5 of the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade, the Chemical Review Committee, at its eleventh meeting, in decision CRC-11/4, recommended that carbosulfan be listed in Annex III to the Convention. Subsequently, at its twelfth meeting, in accordance with Article 7 of the Convention, the Committee, by decision CRC-12/2, adopted a draft decision guidance document on carbosulfan (UNEP/FAO/RC/CRC.12/3/Rev.1) and decided to forward it, together with the related tabular summary of comments (UNEP/FAO/RC/CRC.12/INF/7/Rev.1), to the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention for its consideration. The draft decision guidance document is set out in the addendum to the present note (UNEP/FAO/RC/COP.12/7/Add.1) for consideration by the Conference of the Parties.

Draft decision guidance document

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in document UNEP/FAO/RC/COP.12/7, the Chemical Review Committee, at its twelfth meeting, by decision CRC-12/2, adopted a draft decision guidance document on carbosulfan. The draft decision guidance document is set out in the annex to the present note for consideration by the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade. The annex has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. Pursuant to Article 5 of the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade, the Chemical Review Committee, at its nineteenth meeting, reviewed notifications of final regulatory action for chlorpyrifos in the pesticides category submitted by the European Union, Malaysia and Sri Lanka, together with the supporting documentation referred to therein. Taking into account each of the specific criteria set out in Annex II to the Convention, the Committee concluded that the notifications had met the criteria specified in Annex II. Accordingly, the Committee agreed, in decision CRC-19/3, to recommend to the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention that chlorpyrifos (CAS No. 2921-88-2) be listed in Annex III to the Convention as a pesticide and proceeded to prepare a draft decision guidance document.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in document UNEP/FAO/RC/COP.12/8, the Chemical Review Committee, at its twentieth meeting, by decision CRC-20/1, adopted a draft decision guidance document on chlorpyrifos. The draft decision guidance document is set out in the annex to the present note for consideration by the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade. The annex has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. Pursuant to Article 5 of the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade, the Chemical Review Committee, at its first meeting, recommended that chrysotile asbestos be listed in Annex III to the Convention (UNEP/FAO/RC/CRC.1/28, annex I, sect. B). Subsequently, at its second meeting, the Committee, in accordance with Article 7 of the Convention, agreed on the text of a draft decision guidance document on chrysotile asbestos (UNEP/FAO/RC/CRC.2/20, para. 106 and annex I) and decided to forward it to the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention for its consideration. The draft decision guidance document is set out in the addendum to the present note (UNEP/FAO/RC/COP.12/9/Add.1) for consideration by the Conference of the Parties.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in document UNEP/FAO/RC/COP.12/9, the Chemical Review Committee at its second meeting agreed on the text of a draft decision guidance document on chrysotile asbestos. The draft decision guidance document is set out in the annex to the present note for consideration by the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade. The annex has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. Pursuant to Article 6 of the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade, the Chemical Review Committee, at its ninth meeting, in decision CRC-9/4, recommended the listing of fenthion (ultra-low-volume (ULV) formulations at or above 640 g active ingredient/L) as a severely hazardous pesticide formulation in Annex III to the Convention. Subsequently, at its tenth meeting, in accordance with Article 7 of the Convention, the Committee, by decision CRC-10/2, adopted a draft decision guidance document on fenthion (ULV formulations at or above 640 g active ingredient/L) (UNEP/FAO/RC/CRC.10/3) and decided to forward it, together with the related tabular summary of comments (UNEP/FAO/RC/CRC.10/INF/5), to the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention for its consideration. The draft decision guidance document is set out in the addendum to the present note (UNEP/FAO/RC/COP.12/10/Add.1) for consideration by the Conference of the Parties.

Draft decision guidance document

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in document UNEP/FAO/RC/COP.12/10, the Chemical Review Committee, at its tenth meeting, by decision CRC-10/2, adopted a draft decision guidance document on fenthion (ultra low volume formulations at or above 640 g active ingredient/L). The draft decision guidance document is set out in the annex to the present note for consideration by the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade. The annex has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. Pursuant to Article 5 of the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade, the Chemical Review Committee, at its seventeenth meeting, in decision CRC-17/1, recommended that iprodione be listed in Annex III to the Convention. Subsequently, at its eighteenth meeting, in accordance with Article 7 of the Convention, the Committee, by decision CRC 18/1, adopted a draft decision guidance document on iprodione (UNEP/FAO/RC/CRC.18/3/Rev.1) and decided to forward it, together with the related tabular summary of comments (UNEP/FAO/RC/CRC.18/INF/4/Rev.1), to the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention for its consideration. The draft decision guidance document is set out in the addendum to the present note (UNEP/FAO/RC/COP.12/11/Add.1) for consideration by the Conference of the Parties.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in document UNEP/FAO/RC/COP.12/11, the Chemical Review Committee, at its eighteenth meeting, by decision CRC-18/1, adopted a draft decision guidance document on iprodione. The draft decision guidance document is set out in the annex to the present note for the consideration of the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade. The annex has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. Pursuant to Articles 6 and 7 of the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade, the Chemical Review Committee, at its eighth meeting, by decision CRC-8/7, recommended the listing of liquid formulations (emulsifiable concentrate and soluble concentrate) containing paraquat dichloride at or above 276 g/L, corresponding to paraquat ion at or above 200 g/L, as severely hazardous pesticide formulations in Annex III to the Convention; adopted a draft decision guidance document for those formulations; and decided to forward it, together with the related tabular summary of comments, to the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention for its consideration. The draft decision guidance document is set out in the addendum to the present note (UNEP/FAO/RC/COP.12/12/Add.1) for consideration by the Conference of the Parties.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in document UNEP/FAO/RC/COP.12/12, the Chemical Review Committee, at its eighth meeting, by decision CRC-8/7, adopted a draft decision guidance document on liquid formulations (emulsifiable concentrate and soluble concentrate) containing paraquat dichloride at or above 276 g/L, corresponding to paraquat ion at or above 200 g/L. The draft decision guidance document is set out in the annex to the present note for consideration by the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade. The annex has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. Pursuant to Article 5 of the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade, the Chemical Review Committee, at its nineteenth meeting, reviewed notifications of final regulatory action for mercury in the industrial category submitted by Colombia and the European Union, together with the supporting documentation referred to therein. Taking into account each of the specific criteria set out in Annex II to the Convention, the Committee concluded that the notifications had met the criteria specified in Annex II to the Convention. Accordingly, the Committee agreed, in decision CRC-19/4, to recommend to the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention that mercury (CAS No. 7439-97-6) be listed in Annex III to the Convention as an industrial chemical and proceeded to prepare a draft decision guidance document.

Draft decision guidance document

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in document UNEP/FAO/RC/COP.12/13, the Chemical Review Committee, at its twentieth meeting, by decision CRC-20/2, adopted a draft decision guidance document on mercury. The draft decision guidance document is set out in the annex to the present note for consideration by the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade. The annex has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. Pursuant to Article 5 of the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade, the Chemical Review Committee, at its first and eighteenth meetings, reviewed notifications of final regulatory action for methyl bromide in the pesticides category submitted by the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Colombia, respectively, together with the supporting documentation referred to therein. Taking into account each of the specific criteria set out in Annex II to the Convention, the Committee concluded that the notifications had met the criteria specified in Annex II to the Convention. Accordingly, the Committee agreed, in decision CRC-18/3, to recommend to the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention that methyl bromide (CAS No. 74-83-9) be listed in Annex III to the Convention as a pesticide and proceeded to prepare a draft decision guidance document.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in document UNEP/FAO/RC/COP.12/14, the Chemical Review Committee, at its nineteenth meeting, by decision CRC-19/1, adopted a draft decision guidance document on methyl bromide. The draft decision guidance document is set out in the annex to the present note for consideration by the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade. The annex has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in document UNEP/FAO/RC/COP.12/15, the Chemical Review Committee, at its nineteenth meeting, by decision CRC-19/2, adopted a draft decision guidance document on paraquat. The draft decision guidance document is set out in the annex to the present note for consideration by the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade. The annex has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. Pursuant to Article 5 of the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade, the Chemical Review Committee, at its eighteenth meeting, reviewed notifications of final regulatory action for paraquat in the pesticides category submitted by Malaysia and Mozambique, together with the supporting documentation referred to therein. Taking into account each of the specific criteria set out in Annex II to the Convention, the Committee concluded that the notifications had met the criteria specified in Annex II to the Convention. Accordingly, the Committee agreed, in decision CRC-18/4, to recommend to the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention that paraquat (CAS Nos. 4685-14-7, 1910-42-5, 27041-84-5, 2074-50-2) be listed in Annex III to the Convention as a pesticide and proceeded to prepare a draft decision guidance document.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. The present note provides information on the implementation of the mandates established by decision RC-11/4, on enhancing the effectiveness of the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade by addressing impacts regarding the listing of chemicals in Annex III and its implementation, adopted by the Conference of the Parties to the Convention at its eleventh meeting, and on the request contained in the report of the Conference of the Parties on the work of its eleventh meeting (UNEP/FAO/RC/COP.11/25, para. 158) for the Secretariat to continue implementation of decision RC-10/10, on enhancing the effectiveness of the Convention, and to report thereon to the twelfth meeting of the Conference of the Parties. The present note also provides information in follow-up to the agreement reached by the Conference of the Parties (ibid., para. 162) to defer further consideration of the proposal from a group of African countries to amend Article 16 of the Convention to its twelfth meeting.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. As is mentioned in document UNEP/FAO/RC/COP.12/16, a proposal to amend Article 16 of the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade, on technical assistance, is set out in annex I to the present note. The proposal was submitted by Botswana, Cameroon, Eswatini, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe in October 2016 for consideration by the Conference of the Parties at its eighth meeting. For the convenience of Parties, the proposed amendment to the current text of Article 16, with changes tracked, is set out in annex II to the present note. The explanatory note from the Parties proposing the amendment is available in document UNEP/FAO/RC/COP.8/INF/40, and a compilation of comments relating to the proposed amendment received from Parties prior to the eighth meeting of the Conference of the Parties is available in document UNEP/FAO/RC/COP.8/INF/41.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. The present note provides information on the implementation of decision RC-11/5, on the Compliance Committee of the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade, adopted by the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention at its eleventh meeting.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. The present note provides information on the implementation of the mandates established by decisions BC-16/17, RC-11/6 and SC-11/13, on technical assistance, adopted by the conferences of the Parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade, and the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants at their 2023 meetings.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. The present note provides information on the implementation of the mandates established by decisions BC-16/19, RC-11/7 and SC-11/15, on a framework for developing a resource mobilization strategy, adopted by the conferences of the Parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes, the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade and the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants at their 2023 meetings.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. The present note provides information on the implementation of the mandates established by decisions BC-16/21, RC-11/8 and SC-11/20, on cooperation and coordination with the Minamata Convention on Mercury, adopted by the conferences of the Parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade and the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants at their 2023 meetings.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. The present note provides information on the implementation of the mandates established by decisions BC-16/22, RC-11/9 and SC-11/21, on international cooperation and coordination with other organizations, adopted by the conferences of the Parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade and the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants at their 2023 meetings.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. The present note provides information on the implementation of the mandates established by decisions BC-16/23, RC-11/10 and SC-11/22, on the clearing-house mechanism for information exchange, of the conferences of the Parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes, the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade and the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. The present note provides information on the implementation of the mandates established by decisions BC-13/20, RC-8/13 and SC-8/23, on mainstreaming gender, which were adopted by the conferences of the Parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade and the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants in 2017, as well as the request from the conferences of the Parties at their meetings in 2023 for the Secretariat to report on the implementation of the Gender Action Plan to the conferences of the Parties at their meetings in 2025.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. The present note provides information on the implementation of the mandates established by decisions BC-16/24, RC-11/11 and SC-11/23, on synergies in preventing and combating illegal traffic and trade in hazardous chemicals and wastes, adopted by the conferences of the Parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade and the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants at their 2023 meetings.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. The present note provides information on the implementation of the mandate established by decisions BC-16/25, RC-11/12 and SC-11/24 entitled “From science to action”, which were adopted by the conferences of the Parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade and the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants at their meetings in 2023.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. The present note provides information on the budget scenarios requested in decisions BC-16/28, (para. 26), RC-11/15 (para. 29) and SC-11/27 (para. 28), on programmes of work and budgets for the biennium 2024–2025, adopted by the conferences of the Parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade and the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants at their 2023 meetings.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. Meetings of the conferences of the Parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade and the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants are to be held at the seat(s) of the Secretariat, unless the conferences of the Parties decide otherwise or other appropriate arrangements are made by the Secretariat in consultation with the Parties.