The Rotterdam Convention

ON THE PRIOR INFORMED CONSENT PROCEDURE FOR CERTAIN HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS AND PESTICIDES IN INTERNATIONAL TRADE

 

The Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade (referred to as the Rotterdam Convention; also commonly known as PIC) entered into force on 24 February 2004.

 

Following ratification by the Australian Government on 20 May 2004, the obligations of the Rotterdam Convention entered into force for Australia on 18 August 2004.

 

The objective of the Convention is to promote shared responsibility and cooperative efforts among Parties in the international trade of certain hazardous pesticide and industrial chemicals to protect human health and the environment from potential harm and to contribute to their environmentally sound use, by facilitating information exchange about their characteristics. The Rotterdam Convention allows the continuation of trade in chemicals, without mandating bans or phase-outs of chemicals. The Convention provides for a national decision-making process on the import of these chemicals, and disseminates those decisions to Parties. It also provides for importing Parties to receive information on a chemical being exported from a country that has banned or severely restricted it on human health and/or environment grounds.

 

The information presented in the Industry Guidance is intended to provide plain English guidance on Australia's rights and obligations for industrial chemicals under the Rotterdam Convention and industry requirements for meeting these obligations. However, persons should refer to text of the Rotterdam Convention, which sets out the provisions and obligations that apply to all Parties. The PIC site is at www.pic.int.

 

More Information

• Guidance Note (PDF 129KB);

• Downloadable Import and Export Permit Application Forms.