On 10 September 1998, in Rotterdam, the Conference of Plenipotentiaries adopts the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade (PIC).

The multilateral treaty, prepared by UNEP and FAO on the basis of the voluntary PIC programme, requires exporters to use proper labelling, disclose restrictions and respect Parties’ import decisions for Annex III chemicals.

Opened for signature on 11 September 1998; the depositary is the UN Secretary-General. Entry into force: 24 February 2004, ninety days after the fiftieth instrument of ratification. Over 160 parties.

The secretariat is now shared with the Basel and Stockholm conventions.

For global chemicals governance, 10 September 1998 marks the Rotterdam adoption.

The text appears in UNTS and on pic.int.

The Rotterdam Convention of 10 September 1998 remains the binding PIC-procedure milestone.

Image: Rotterdam; Wikimedia Commons. Cropped to 16:9.

Source consulted: Rotterdam Convention. Treaty text: UN Treaty Collection — Rotterdam Convention.