See more coverage of this event on the main IISD ENB website

We have launched a new website to better share our reports of global environmental negotiations.

As well as current coverage of new negotiations, you can find our original reports from this event by clicking here.
 



ENB web coverage
and daily reports

Day

HTML

PDF*

TXT

17 November

18 November

19 November

20 November

21 November

SUMMARY 






To view PDF files, you will need the free Adobe Reader

To listen to Real Audio files, you will need the free Real Audio player

 
Tenth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for an International Legally Binding Instrument for the Application of the Prior Informed Consent Procedure (PIC) for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade (INC-10)

Geneva, Switzerland; 17-21 November 2003
Daily Web Coverage |Curtain| |Mon 17| |Tue 18| |Wed 19| |Thu 20| |Fri 21|

Highlights for Monday, 17 November 2003



The tenth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-10) for an International Legally Binding Instrument for the Application of the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade opened on Monday morning, November 17, in Geneva. Following the opening statements, delegates addressed organizational matters, activities of the secretariat and review of the situation as regards extrabudgetary funds, implementation of the interim PIC Procedure, and preparations for COP-1. A working group dealing with cases of non-compliance convened in the afternoon.

Above photo L-R: Niek van der Graaff, Joint Executive Secretary for the Interim Secretariat of the Rotterdam Convention (FAO), INC Chair Maria Celina de Azevedo Rodrigues (Brazil), and Jim Willis, Joint Executive Secretary for the Interim Secretariat of the Rotterdam Convention (UNEP)


OPENING PLENARY:


INC Chair Maria Celina de Azevedo Rodrigues (Brazil) welcomed delegates to INC-10 and introduced the opening speakers.




In his opening statement, Phillipe Roch, State Secretary, Director, Swiss Agency for the Environment, Forests, and Landscape, noted the possibility that INC-10 might be the last INC prior to the Conventions entry into force.

 


Listen to an excerpt of Louise Fresco's opening statement

Louise Fresco,  Assistant Director-General, FAO, highlighted the link between regulation of international trade in hazardous chemicals and pesticides and the need to increase food production through agricultural intensification.


Shafqat Kakakhel, UNEP Deputy Executive Director described the Convention as the 'first line' of defense against chemical hazards, and a vital part of the international toolkit for protecting human health and the environment from harmful pesticides and chemicals.


ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS:




Jim Willis, Joint Executive Secretary for the Interim Secretariat of the Rotterdam Convention (UNEP), presented a report on activities of the secretariat and review of the situation as regards extrabudgetary funds (UNEP/FAO/PIC/INC.10/3).



The European Community (EC) requested that issues regarding implementation, the trust fund, secretariat staffing and budget be discussed in an open ended working group. Above photo (right): Hervé Martin (EC).


CANADA requested that Secretariat staffing be prioritized.


CUBA highlighted the importance of financing the participation of non-Party developing countries. Above photo: Mario Abó Balanza (Cuba)


Yun Zhou, Interim Secretariat, introduced a document detailing the rate of import responses on various chemicals (UNEP/FAO/PIC/INC.10/4), drawing attention to the relatively low rate of import responses.


The RUSSIAN FEDERATION urged the elaboration of criteria for including substances in the PIC list. Above photo: Boris Kurlyandski (Russian Federation) 



REPORT OF ICRC-4:

JAPAN noted that tributyltin has been assessed under International Maritime Organization's International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling Systems on Ships and asked whether this could be used in Japan's notification. Above photo L-R: Chiharu Kobayashi and Yasuhiro Nakayama (Japan)



Reiner Arndt, ICRC Chair, presented the document (UNEP/FAO/PIC.10/6), noting that intersessional work had begun on DGDs for parathion and tetraethyl lead and tetramethyl lead.


INCLUSION OF CHEMICALS:


Joint Executive Secretary, Niek van der Graaff introduced the recommendations of ICRC-4 regarding the inclusion of dustable powder formulations of benomyl, carbofuran and thiram in the interim PIC Procedure and the draft DGD (UNEP/FAO/PIC/INC.10/9).


Masa Nagai, Interim Secretariat, introduced a document (UNEP/FAO/PIC/INC.10/19), highlighting issues relevant to non-compliance.

 


OPEN ENDED WORKING GROUP ON COMPLIANCE:



Above photo: Delegates discussing text on draft COP-1 decision on procedures and institutional mechanisms for handling cases of non-compliance.

 

 

 
Above photo: Alistair McGlone (UK), Chair of the open ended working group on compliance.

 

 

Links

INC-10 documents.
 UNEP Chemicals Unit.
 ENB coverage of INC-9.
 ENB coverage of meetings regarding chemicals management.
Rotterdam Convention.