The fifth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP5) to the Rotterdam Convention convened for its final day in Geneva, Switzerland on Friday 24 June 2011.

During the morning, delegates convened in plenary and took decisions on information exchange and on the increasing the number of notifications of final regulatory actions submitted under Article 5 of the Rotterdam Convention. Delegates also heard reports of credentials and of the contact group on budget and technical assistance, and on non-compliance. Plenary then adjourned to allow these groups to complete their work.

Delegates reconvened in plenary during the afternoon and adopted decisions on listing of endosulfan in Annex III of the Convention, the budget, technical assistance. Delegates also took a decision to consider the listing of chrysotile asbestos at COP6. Delegates could not reach agreement on the adoption of a non-compliance mechanism. 

6:36pm - delegates continue discussing sending the Chair's text on non-compliance to COP6.

COP5 President Noluzuko Gwayi declared COP5 closed at 7:28pm.

ENB web coverage for Friday, 24 June

The fifth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP5) to the Rotterdam Convention convened for its fourth day in Geneva, Switzerland on Thursday, 23 June 2011.

During the morning, delegates convened in plenary and took a decision on trade. Plenary was then adjourned to allow contact groups on budget and technical assistance, candidate chemicals, and non-compliance to continue their work. 

Delegates reconvened in plenary during the afternoon and discussed the issue of listing chrysotile asbestos. Those parties opposing the listing of chrysotile were asked to explain their positions. In response, delegates agreed to convene an informal discussion on information on asbestos in an effort to address some parties' concern about the lack of scientific data. These informal talks were facilitated by Barry Reville (Australia).

Read the ENB daily report with highlights from Thursday 23 June English (in HTML or PDF format), French (in HTML or PDF format), Spanish (in HTML or PDF format).
ENB web coverage for Thursday, 23 June

The fifth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP5) to the Rotterdam Convention convened for its third day in Geneva, Switzerland on Wednesday, 22 June 2011.

During the morning, plenary delegates considered synergies, trade, and non-compliance. They agreed to establish a contact group to continue deliberations on non-compliance.

During the afternoon plenary, delegates adopted decisions on synergies, financial resources, and membership of the CRC. Plenary was adjourned mid-afternoon to allow delegates to meet in contact groups.

Contact groups on budget and technical assistance and candidate chemicals convened throughout the day.  A contact group on non-compliance convened in the afternoon and into the evening. 

Read the ENB daily report with highlights from Wednesday 22 June English (in HTML or PDF format), French (in HTML or PDF format), Spanish (in HTML or PDF format).
ENB web coverage for Wednesday, 22 June

The fifth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP5) to the Rotterdam Convention convened for its second day in Geneva, Switzerland on Tuesday, 21 June 2011.

During the morning plenary, delegates considered chemicals for inclusion in Annex III to the Convention and took decisions to list alachlor and aldicarb. The decision to list endosulfan in Annex III was deferred pending the outcome of discussions related to technical assistance.

Delegates also considered the listing of chrysotile asbestos, and agreed to postpone discussion on this issue until after consideration of possible approaches to dealing with chemicals recommended for listing in Annex III by the CRC but on which the COP is unable to reach consensus. In the afternoon, delegates considered the latter issue and subsequently agreed to establish a contact group tasked with attempting to reach consensus on chrysotile asbestos, and in the event that agreement cannot be reached, discussing approaches for dealing with CRC-recommended chemicals that COP has not agreed to list. COP5 then turned its attention to membership of the CRC.

A contact group on budget and technical assistance convened throughout the day. A contact group on chemicals convened during the evening.

Read the ENB daily report with highlights from Tuesday 21 June English (in HTML or PDF format), French (in HTML or PDF format), Spanish (in HTML or PDF format).
ENB web coverage for Tuesday, 21 June

The fifth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP5) to the Rotterdam Convention opened in Geneva, Switzerland on Monday, 20 June 2011.

Delegates heard opening addresses from Noluzuko (Zukie) Gwayi (South Africa), Jim Willis, Joint Executive Secretary of the Basel and Stockholm conventions and UNEP-part of the Rotterdam Convention, and Peter Kenmore, Co-Executive Secretary of the Rotterdam Convention. Bakary Kante, on behalf of Achim Steiner, Executive Director of UNEP, also addressed delegates.

Delegates then addressed organizational matters, made opening statements, and initiated consideration of matters related to budget. A contact group chaired by Kirsten Stendhal (Finland) was established to continue discussion on this matter.

During the afternoon plenary, delegates considered matters related to the implementation of the Convention, including: status of implementation, technical assistance and financial resources. Delegates referred further consideration on technical assistance to the budget contact group.et and technical assistance convened throughout the day. A contact group on chemicals convened during the evening.

Read the ENB daily report with highlights from Monday 20 June English (in HTML or PDF format), French (in HTML or PDF format), Spanish (in HTML or PDF format).
ENB web coverage for Monday, 20 June