Council Decision (EU) 2025/860 of 14 April 2025 on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union at the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for certain hazardous chemicals and pesticides in international trade as regards certain amendments to that Convention and to Annex III thereto, and to the Rules of Procedure for the Conference of the Parties to the Convention

## Report on Council Decision (EU) 2025/860 concerning the Rotterdam Convention **1. Executive Summary:** This report analyzes Council Decision (EU) 2025/860 of 14 April 2025 concerning the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union at the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention. This decision pertains to proposed amendments to the Convention, specifically regarding the inclusion of additional hazardous chemicals and pesticides in Annex III and proposed changes to the Rules of Procedure and Article 16 of the Convention. The EU supports the listing of specified chemicals in Annex III but opposes the proposed amendments to the Rules of Procedure and Article 16. These actions are intended to strengthen the Convention's effectiveness in protecting human health and the environment from the risks associated with international trade in hazardous substances. **2. Introduction:** This report aims to provide a comprehensive overview of Council Decision (EU) 2025/860 based solely on the provided text. The analysis focuses on the objectives, key provisions, target audience, and potential impact of the decision, specifically in relation to the Rotterdam Convention. **3. Policy Overview:** * This Council Decision concerns proposed *amendments* to the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for certain hazardous chemicals and pesticides in international trade. The original policy is referenced as concluded by the Union via Council Decision 2006/730/EC. * **Core Objective(s):** * To establish the EU's position at the twelfth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention. * To promote shared responsibility and cooperative efforts in the international trade of hazardous chemicals to protect human health and the environment. * To ensure that the EU's position aligns with the objectives of the Rotterdam Convention, particularly regarding the inclusion of hazardous chemicals in Annex III. **4. Background and Rationale:** This decision provides the EU position on three distinct proposed amendments to the Rotterdam Convention. The primary justification for the EU's position on each, based on the provided text, is as follows: * **Listing Chemicals in Annex III:** The EU supports this amendment because it believes the listed chemicals "meet all relevant criteria" and their inclusion is "necessary" to further protect human health and the environment. * **Amendment to Rules of Procedure:** The EU opposes changes to the Rules of Procedure because it believes that items not concluded at an ordinary meeting should be included on the agenda for the next meeting. * **Amendment to Article 16:** The EU opposes this change (technical assistance) because an integrated approach to financing is in place, the GEF already addresses related aspects, and Parties can contribute to a voluntary trust fund. **5. Key Provisions / Changes:** This decision primarily addresses *amendments* to the existing Rotterdam Convention and its associated rules. * **Amendment 1: Annex III (Listing of Chemicals)** * **Original Policy Section:** Article 7 of the Rotterdam Convention (as inferred). * **New Rule/Provision:** Inclusion of acetochlor, carbosulfan, chlorpyrifos, chrysotile asbestos, fenthion ultra low volume (ULV) formulations at or above 640 g active ingredient/L, iprodione, liquid formulations (emulsifiable concentrate and soluble concentrate) containing paraquat dichloride at or above 276 g/L (corresponding to paraquat ion at or above 200 g/L), mercury, methyl bromide, and paraquat in Annex III of the Rotterdam Convention. * **Difference/Effect:** This change would add these specific chemicals to the list of substances subject to the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) procedure. This would require exporting countries to notify importing countries of shipments of these chemicals, giving importing countries the opportunity to decide whether or not to allow the import of these substances. * **Amendment 2: Rules of Procedure (Agenda Items)** * **Original Policy Section:** Rule 16 of the Rules of Procedure for the Conference of the Parties. * **New Rule/Provision (Proposed):** To remove the automatic inclusion of unfinished agenda items from one meeting to the next, requiring a new decision to include them. The EU *opposes* this change. * **Difference/Effect:** If adopted, this amendment would make it more difficult to advance discussions on listing additional chemicals, potentially slowing down the process of protecting human health and the environment from hazardous chemicals. The EU's opposition seeks to maintain the current, more streamlined process. * **Amendment 3: Article 16 (Technical Assistance)** * **Original Policy Section:** Article 16 of the Rotterdam Convention, concerning technical assistance. * **New Rule/Provision (Proposed):** Broaden the scope to also address financial assistance, in particular assistance by the Global Environment Facility Trust Fund (GEF) and financial assistance by Parties. The EU *opposes* this change. * **Difference/Effect:** The EU believes the current system is sufficient, making the proposed amendment unnecessary. **6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:** Based on the provided text, the directly affected stakeholders include: * **Parties to the Rotterdam Convention:** All countries that have ratified the Convention, as they will be bound by any amendments adopted. * **Industries involved in the international trade of hazardous chemicals and pesticides:** Particularly those dealing with the chemicals listed for inclusion in Annex III. * **Importing countries:** Specifically, those that rely on the PIC procedure to make informed decisions about importing hazardous substances. * **The European Union:** As a party to the Convention, the EU is directly affected by any changes to its provisions. **7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):** * **Responsible Agency/Bodies:** The Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention is the primary body responsible for implementing the Convention and any amendments thereto. The European Commission is responsible for proposing the EU's position. * **Timelines/Procedures:** The decision is linked to the twelfth meeting of the Conference of the Parties. Specific implementation timelines and procedures for the amendments themselves are not detailed in the text, but would likely be outlined by the Conference of the Parties following adoption of the amendments. * **Amendments:** Implementation will be handled by the responsible agency. No timelines or procedures were specified. **8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:** * **Listing Chemicals in Annex III:** The intended outcome is enhanced protection of human health and the environment in importing countries by ensuring they have the information and the right to refuse imports of hazardous chemicals. This is also expected to increase compliance costs for industries involved in exporting these chemicals. * **Rules of Procedure (Agenda Items):** Since the EU opposes this amendment, the desired outcome is the *continuation* of the existing system. Were the amendment to be accepted, it could hinder the efficiency of the process. * **Article 16 (Technical Assistance):** As the EU opposes this amendment, the desired outcome is the *continuation* of the existing system, which the EU believes is already adequate. **9. Conclusion:** Council Decision (EU) 2025/860 establishes the EU's position on key amendments to the Rotterdam Convention, reflecting its commitment to protecting human health and the environment from the risks associated with hazardous chemicals. The EU's support for listing additional chemicals in Annex III aligns with the Convention's core objectives. The decision underscores the EU's active role in shaping international environmental policy through its participation in multilateral agreements. While the success of the effort to keep the rules of procedure and Article 16 as they are is uncertain, it does indicate that the EU is committed to ensuring that the Rotterdam Convention continues to function as it should.

Key Entities Referenced