ENB @ Rotterdam Convention PIC COP-2, Rome, Italy; 27-30 September 2005

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	Second 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 Rome, Italy \| 27-30 September 2005

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PIC COP-2 Convenes in Rome

The second Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade (COP-2) opened in the afternoon of Tuesday 27 September, in Rome. Following opening statements, by representatives of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Italian government, delegates addressed organizational matters, confirmed the experts and Chair of the Chemicals Review Committee (CRC), and addressed CRC proposals.

Tuesday, 27 September
Plenary

David A. Harcharik, FAO Deputy Director General, highlighted the impacts that pesticides have had in increasing food production, and the lack of progress in attaining the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).	Shafqat Kakakhel, UNEP's Deputy Executive Director, highlighted the links between sound chemicals management and the achievement of the MDGs, noting that the 2005 UN World Summit held in New York has reaffirmed an unambiguous commitment by all governments to achieve the MDGs.	Domenico Zinzi, Italy's Vice Minister of Health, underscored his country's commitment to the implementation process of the Rotterdam Convention and mentioned the holding of a side event on this issue.
Shuichi Takano, Japan, said that all decisions of the COP should be reached by consensus.	Mary Mushi, Tanzania, expressed support for the use of a two-thirds majority vote in the absence of consensus.	Naresh Dayal, India, opposed inclusion in Annex III of chrysotile asbestos, stressing this would hinder the efforts of developing countries to provide low-cost housing.
Bettina Hitzfeld, Chair of the Chemicals Review Committee (CRC), presented the CRC report, noting that the meeting had provided an opportunity to review the role and mandate of the CRC.	Yuri Kundiyev, Ukraine, stressed that decisions of the CRC should always be reached by consensus.	Myrsaliev Narynbek, Kyrgyzstan, proposed text to clarify the process flow chart for CRC review of chemicals.
Maria Celina de Azevedo Rodrigues, Brazil, said "take into account" was too strong, and proposed that the CRC "take note" of the comments of its observers instead.	Fagamou Sy Diop, Senegal, suggested replacing "observers" with "resource persons," to clarify the distinction between CRC members and observers.	Alf Wills, South Africa, suggested text asking the CRC to "take into account" the comments of of observers in its working procedures.
Open-Ended Ad Hoc Working Group on Non-Compliance
The Open-Ended Ad Hoc Working Group on Non-Compliance met Monday morning and afternoon and Tuesday morning, discussing possibilities for a mechanism to address non-compliance by Parties to the Convention.
Around COP-2
A view of Rome toward the Vatican, from the roof terrace at FAO.
CropLife International table and display.	Stockholm Convention on Persistant Organic Pollutants table and display.	UNITAR table and display.
Pesticide Action Network table and display.	Rotterdam Convention table and display.	Fagamou Sy Diop, Senegal, and Cathy Ganzleben, UNITAR, confer at the start of plenary.