International Council of Chemical Associations on ratification of Rotterdam(PIC) convention

The International Council of Chemical Associations (ICCA) welcomes the deposit of the 50th government ratification of the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade. The Convention will enter into force February 24, 2004. 

The Rotterdam Convention will apply initially to 27 pesticides and industrial chemicals that are banned or severely restricted in two or more regions of the world. The Convention establishes a process by which importing countries have an opportunity to make informed decisions about the import of such highly regulated chemicals. The Convention includes a process to include additional chemicals as regulations change.  

Greg Lebedev, President and CEO of the American Chemistry Council (ACC) and ICCA’s current Secretary General, noted that the Convention is an important tool for assuring that governments have the information necessary to make informed regulatory decisions when importing chemical products.

“ICCA members worked hard to implement the voluntary prior-and-informed consent system that preceded the Rotterdam Convention,” said Lebedev. “The legal obligations imposed by the Convention are consistent with the industry’s commitment under Responsible Care®, the chemical industry’s performance initiative operating in 47 countries around the world.

“The Rotterdam Convention alone cannot substitute for effective national chemical regulatory programs,” Lebedev added, “but it goes a long way toward establishing balanced global disciplines that encourage fair trade and promote health and environmental protection. The industry looks forward to the Rotterdam Convention’s entry into force and is committed to working with governments around the world to assure the safe production and use of chemicals.”