Severely Hazardous Pesticide Formulations

Overview

Severely Hazardous Pesticide Formulations (SHPFs) are chemicals formulated for pesticidal use that are known to produce severe health or environmental effects observable within a short period of time after single or multiple exposure, under conditions of use.

Article 6 of the Convention outlines the procedures for SHPFs. Under Article 6, any Party that is a developing country or country with an economy in transition that is experiencing problems caused by an SHPF, either due to human health or environmental problems in its territory may make a proposal to the Secretariat for the inclusion of the formulation in Annex III. The proposals must contain the information specified in Part 1 of Annex IV of the Convention and be submitted to the Secretariat by the DNA of that country.

Process for the submission of an SHPF

To facilitate the implementation of Article 6 of the Convention, the Secretariat has developed two forms: one for reporting on environmental incidents and one for reporting on human health incidents related to an SHPF. The forms and instructions are intended to assist DNAs in understanding what information to collect and submit in support of a proposal for listing a hazardous pesticide formulation in Annex III.

The Secretariat has developed an SHPF kit to provide guidance on monitoring and reporting pesticide poisoning incidents.

In preparing a proposal for the listing of an SHPF in Annex III, a DNA may draw upon technical expertise from any relevant source. Upon receipt of a proposal the Secretariat must verify whether it meets the information requirements of part 1 of Annex IV of the Convention. If the proposal is found to be complete a summary is prepared and published in Appendix II, Part A of the PIC Circular. The summary briefly describes the formulation, how it was being used, when the incident occurred and the adverse effects observed on either human health or the environment.

PIC Circulars can be viewed and downloaded here PIC Circular.

Article 6

                                                     Procedures for severely hazardous pesticide formulations

1.             Any Party that is a developing country or a country with an economy in transition and that is experiencing problems caused by a severely hazardous pesticide formulation under conditions of use in its territory, may propose to the Secretariat the listing of the severely hazardous pesticide formulation in Annex III.  In developing a proposal, the Party may draw upon technical expertise from any relevant source.  The proposal shall contain the information required by part 1 of Annex IV.

2.             The Secretariat shall, as soon as possible, and in any event no later than six months after receipt of a proposal under paragraph 1, verify whether the proposal contains the information required by part 1 of Annex IV.  If the proposal contains the information required, the Secretariat shall forthwith forward to all Parties a summary of the information received. If the proposal does not contain the information required, it shall inform the proposing Party accordingly.

3.             The Secretariat shall collect the additional information set out in part 2 of Annex IV regarding the proposal forwarded under paragraph 2.

4.             When the requirements of paragraphs 2 and 3 above have been fulfilled with regard to a particular severely hazardous pesticide formulation, the Secretariat shall forward the proposal and the related information to the Chemical Review Committee.

5.             The Chemical Review Committee shall review the information provided in the proposal and the additional information collected and, in accordance with the criteria set out in part 3 of Annex IV, recommend to the Conference of the Parties whether the severely hazardous pesticide formulation in question should be made subject to the Prior Informed Consent procedure and, accordingly, be listed in Annex III.