James M. Jeffords: “this week, seventy-four nations are meeting in Geneva at the first Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention…”

“this week, seventy-four nations are meeting in Geneva at the first Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention on Prior Informed Consent (PIC) for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides. This important international agreement establishes a legally binding framework that requires exporters of listed substances to secure informed consent from governments of importing countries prior to any shipment of such chemicals. Simply put, the convention recognizes and incorporates the basic principle of right-to-know with respect to trade in hazardous chemicals. As such, it marks yet another positive step in the direction of a comprehensive international approach to chemicals management. Unfortunately, the United States is not yet a party to the convention, and thus will not be at the table this week when important decisions are made regarding organization, scope, and future direction. Earlier this week, for example, the parties agreed to add fourteen new chemicals to the convention's list of substances requiring informed consent. Because we are not a party, the United States did not participate in that decision. Lest one think this is an exceptional case, the Rotterdam Convention is one of three important international agreements on chemicals that the United States has signed, but so far failed to ratify.”