The Rotterdam Convention

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What is Iprodione?

• Iprodione, a fungicide used on vines, fruits, trees and vegetables & it is a hydantoin fungicide and nematicide.
• It  has been classified as carcinogenic and toxic for reproduction.
• It slowly works its way up through the plant roots and into all the parts of the plant.
• In the EU, Iprodione was considered very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects and suspected of causing cancer. 

What is Terbufos?

• Terbufos is a soil insecticide used commonly on sorghum, maize, beet and potatoes. 
• Terbufos is a chemical compound used in insecticides and nematicides.
• It is a clear, colourless to pale yellow or reddish-brown liquid and sold commercially as granulate.
• It has also been found to pose risk to aquatic organisms due to its toxicity.

What is the Rotterdam Convention?

• • The Rotterdam Convention (formally, the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade) is a multilateral treaty to promote shared responsibilities in relation to importation of hazardous chemicals. 
  • The convention promotes open exchange of information and calls on exporters of hazardous chemicals to use proper labeling, include directions on safe handling, and inform purchasers of any known restrictions or bans. 
  • Signatory nations can decide whether to allow or ban the importation of chemicals listed in the treaty, and exporting countries are obliged to make sure that producers within their jurisdiction comply.
  • In 2012, the Secretariats of the Basel and Stockholm conventions, as well as the UNEP-part of the Rotterdam Convention Secretariat, merged to a single Secretariat with a matrix structure serving the three conventions.
  • The three conventions now hold back to back Conferences of the Parties as part of their joint synergies decisions.
  • The PIC procedure under the Rotterdam Convention is a mechanism for formally obtaining and disseminating the decisions of importing parties on their willingness to receive future shipments of hazardous chemicals.

• In India, the use of these chemicals was permitted by the 2015 Anupam Verma committee report.  The country is among the largest exporters of Terbufos.

• The recommendations for two chemicals  were made by the Chemical Review Committee on September 22, 2022 at the 18th meeting of the Rotterdam Convention’s Chemical Review Committee (CRC 18) held at Rome, Italy.
• Both the pesticides, which are used in agriculture, are known for their harmful impacts on human health and the environment. 
• The 17th meeting of the chemical review committee (CRC 17) had recommended these two pesticides for listing in Annex III to the Rotterdam Convention and had decided to prepare the decision guidance documents after that. 
• Annex III includes pesticides and industrial chemicals that have been banned or severely restricted for health or environmental reasons by two or more parties. 
• After being recommended for Annex III, the chemicals are subject to PIC procedure. 
• The list will include 54 chemicals after Ipridione and Terbufos are added to it during the 11th Conference of Parties to the Rotterdam Convention. 
• CRC 18 has also recommended two other pesticides, paraquat and methyl bromide, to be listed in Annex III.

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