Key UN Chemicals Experts Agree that Global Action is Warranted to Tackle Threats from Chlorpyrifos and Other Pesticides
PRESS RELEASE
02 October 2024
Global chemicals experts from around the world gathered in Rome for the Chemical Review Committee (CRC) of the Rotterdam Convention on 16-20 September 2024, followed by the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee (POPRC) of the Stockholm Convention on 23-27 September 2024. The CRC agreed that Chlorpyrifos-methyl, Paraquat and Paraquat dichloride, met the criteria to be listed under the Rotterdam Convention. A long list of other pesticides will be deferred to the next CRC, as there is currently no consensus among members, despite their prevailing conditions of use within the notifying party.
The Rotterdam Convention empowers the 165 countries that are Parties to the Convention to make informed decisions on future imports of Acetochlor, Carbosulfan, Chlorpyrifos, Fenthion, Paraquat and Paraquat Dichloride provided these decisions are approved at the next Conference of the Parties (COP).
At the close of the meeting, the POPRC adopted the risk management evaluation (RME) for chlorpyrifos and decided to recommend to the COP that it consider listing chlorpyrifos in Annex A to the Stockholm Convention with certain specific exemptions. These specific exemptions will be further discussed at the Conference of the Parties. Many chemical and nonchemical alternatives, including agroecological approaches in pest management, were described in the risk management evaluation for consideration by the POPRC.
Chlorpyrifos is a highly toxic organophosphate pesticide. In humans, there is strong evidence that prenatal exposure to chlorpyrifos causes adverse effects on brain development. Because it is persistent in the environment and can undergo long-range transport, its effects can occur thousands of miles from where chlorpyrifos is used, contaminating the people, wildlife, and environment of the Arctic and other remote regions.
The chemical is already banned in over 40 countries across the globe, according to an informational document submitted to the POPRC with the risk management evaluation.
The decisions from POPRC and CRC will be considered at the Conference of the Parties to be held in Geneva, Switzerland in 2025.
Susan Haffmans, Chair of PAN International, said “We very much welcome the experts decision to recommend listing Chlorpyrifos in Annex A of the Stockholm convention. It is an urgently needed step forward to protect our planet and future generations from this highly hazardous pesticide. While the formal decision will only be taken next year by the conference of the parties, we appeal to countries to start today supporting agroecological alternatives – for the sake of the health of their farmers, a healthy development of today’s children, and future generations”.
Alia Diyana, Project Coordinator of PAN Asia Pacific, said “The Rotterdam Convention plays a crucial role in empowering low- and middle-income countries to make informed decisions about highly hazardous pesticides, such as Chlorpyrifos. Chlorpyrifos, which has already been banned in developed countries, represents a shared global concern. With the expectation that it will be recommended for listing in Annex III of the Rotterdam Convention at next year’s Conference of the Parties (COP), and its anticipated inclusion in Annex A of the Stockholm Convention, we are hopeful this will hasten the global phase-out of Chlorpyrifos. This step is essential for safeguarding human health and protecting the environment for present and future generations.”
/Ends
Editors’ Notes:
PAN International; Pesticide Action Network (PAN) is a network of over 600 participating nongovernmental organizations, institutions and individuals in over 90 countries working to replace the use of hazardous pesticides with ecologically sound and socially just alternatives. PAN was founded in 1982 and has five independent, collaborating Regional Centers that implement its projects and campaigns. https://pan-international.org/
The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants is a multilateral environmental agreement to protect human health and the environment from chemicals, known as Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Stockholm Convention – Home page (pops.int)
The Rotterdam Convention; formally, the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade) is a multilateral environmental agreement to promote shared responsibilities in relation to the importation of hazardous chemicals. Rotterdam Convention Home Page (pic.int)
For further information please contact:
Dr Emily Marquez, Senior scientist, PANNA: emily@panna.org
Susan Haffmans, Chair, PAN International: susan.haffmans@pan-germany.org
Manon Rouby, International Co-coordinator, PAN International: manon@pan-uk.org