Guidance to designated national authorities on the operation of the Rotterdam Convention

	GUIDANCE TO DESIGNATED NATIONAL AUTHORITIES ON THE OPERATION OF THE ROTTERDAM CONVENTION
Secretariat for the Rotterdam Convention Rome/Geneva 2004
	Table of Contents

DISCLAIMER

The Secretariat for the Rotterdam Convention has prepared this text for informational purposes, at the request of the Rotterdam Convention Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee. It is not intended to provide any legal interpretation of the Convention, and the information contained herein cannot be taken as an official legal interpretation of the Convention.

In addition, while every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the text, the Secretariat does not make any warranties or representations as to the completeness or timeliness of this information. Neither the Secretariat, UNEP, FAO, their affiliates, nor their agents, employees, information providers or content providers shall be liable for any loss, damage, liability or expense incurred or suffered that is claimed to have resulted from the use of this information.

For further information, please contact the Secretariat for the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade at one of the Following addresses:

Plant Protection Service
Plant Production and Protection Division
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Viale delle Terme di Caracalla
00100 Rome, Italy

Tel: (+39 06) 5705 3441
Fax: (+39 06) 5705 6347
E-mail: [email protected]

Chemicals
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
11-13, Chemin des Anémones
CH – 1219 Châtelaine, Geneva, Switzerland

Tel: (+41 22) 917 8183
Fax: (+41 22) 797 3460
E-mail: [email protected]

Contents

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

1. INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY

1.1 Introduction and Purpose of this Guidance Document
1.2 Origins of the Rotterdam Convention

1.2.1 Code of Conduct and London Guidelines
1.2.2 Original Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Procedure
1.2.3 Process for the Development of the Convention
1.2.4 Negotiation Process and Interim Arrangements

1.3 What is the Rotterdam Convention?

1.3.1 Objective
1.3.2 Scope - Chemicals covered
1.3.3 What the Convention is and What the Convention is not
1.3.4 Relationship to other “Chemicals Conventions”

1.4 How the Rotterdam Convention Operates – Key Elements

1.4.1 The Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Procedure
1.4.2 Information Exchange
1.4.3 Key Documents
1.4.4 Key Players

2. CHEMICALS IN THE ROTTERDAM CONVENTION

2.1 Introduction
2.2 Scope

2.2.1 Which Chemicals are included
2.2.2 Which Chemicals are excluded

2.3 How Chemicals are Added to Annex III of the Rotterdam Convention

2.3.1 National Action - Notifications of Final Regulatory Actions to Ban or Severely Restrict a Chemical
2.3.2 National Action - Proposals for Severely Hazardous Pesticide Formulations
2.3.3 Global Coordination – Role of the Secretariat, Chemical Review Committee (CRC) and Conference of the Parties (COP)

2.4 How Chemicals are removed from Annex III of the Rotterdam Convention

3. THE PRIOR INFORMED CONSENT (PIC) PROCEDURE

3.1 Introduction
3.2 What is the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Procedure?
3.3 How the Process works – Roles and Key Responsibilities

3.3.1 PIC Circular
3.3.2 Decision Guidance Document (DGD)
3.3.3 Importing Countries
3.3.4 Exporting Countries

3.4 How the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Procedure Benefits Countries

4. EXPORT NOTIFICATION

4.1 Introduction
4.2 How the Export Notification Process works
4.3 How Export Notification Benefits Countries
4.4 Information to cover Exports

5. INFORMATION EXCHANGE

5.1 Introduction
5.2 How Information Exchange Works
5.3 How Information Exchange benefits Countries

6. RESPONSIBILITIES OF DNAs AND GOVERNMENTS IN IMPLEMENTING THE ROTTERDAM CONVENTION

6.1 Getting started
6.2 Responsibilities of the Designated National Authority (DNA)
6.3 Other Obligations for Parties
6.4 Technical Assistance

7. ANNEXES

Annex 7.1 Contents of a Decision Guidance Document (DGD)
Annex 7.2 Contents of a PIC Circular
Annex 7.3 Text of the Rotterdam Convention
Annex 7.4 Chemicals listed in Annex III of the Convention and subject to the PIC procedure*
Annex 7.5 Forms and Instructions

Annex 7.5.1 Submission of a Notification of Final Regulatory Action
Annex 7.5.2 Submission of Import Response
Annex 7.5.3 Severely Hazardous Pesticide Formulation Report Forms – Human Health Incidents
Annex 7.5.4 Severely Hazardous Pesticide Formulation Report Forms – Environmental Incidents

Annex 7.6 Frequently Asked Questions