PAN Germany calls for more transparency on international pesticide trade

24.09.2004, PAN Germany Presse-Information

On the occasion of the First Conference of the Parties of the Rotterdam Convention in Geneva, PAN Germany declares that the Rotterdam Convention is an important first step towards increasing transparency on international trade in pesticides.

At the side event organised by the Pesticide Network UK (PAN UK), PAN Germany states that the Rotterdam Convention is a large step ahead, regarding transparency in particular. "The Governments ratifying the convention have identified the importance of transparency and acknowledged that information on regulatory decisions about pesticides traded is important to identify potential hazard", says Simone Hueber from PAN Germany, "but it's crucial that governments also know about pesticide exports in general."

The conventions Prior Informed Consent (PIC) procedure permits developing countries to decide on the import of certain hazardous pesticides and chemicals on the basis of detailed information.

The procedure is limited to a small number of chemicals and pesticides listed in Annex III of the convention. "Metaphorically speaking we have PIC as a small island of transparency in the middle of a dark sea of the major trade in pesticides", Simone Hueber says.

PAN Germany reminds of the problem that safe use of pesticides is not guaranteed, especially not for farming under poverty conditions and emphasises the need of creating a legal basis for transparent trade in pesticides globally. Thus creating legal acts including the obligation to report to the government on exported pesticides, in particular on the amount of pesticides, the active ingredient and the country of destination. Furthermore the publication of the collected data should be mandatory on the basis of active ingredients.

According to PAN Germany having detailed information on pesticide exports would be beneficial to the aims of the Rotterdam Convention and would help the secretariat of the Rotterdam Convention monitor the parties´ compliance with the regulations under PIC.

The so called Rotterdam Convention entered into force as from February, two months after the fiftieth party had ratified the agreement.

The First Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade takes place in Geneva from 20-24 September 2004.

For further information contact:
Simone Hueber, PAN Germany +49 (0) 40 399 19 10 26
Email: simone.hueber@pan-germany.org