6 April 2011
Rotterdam Convention Chemical Review Committee Recommends Listing of Three Chemicals
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For the first time, CRC recommended the inclusion of an SPHF.

Gramoxone Super, an herbicide containing paraquat dichloride, used to control weeds in cotton, rice and maize, was proposed for inclusion by Burkina Faso, due to problems caused by this pesticide under conditions of use in its territory.

1 April 2011: The Rotterdam Convention Chemical Review Committee (CRC) convened for its seventh meeting from 28 March-1 April, in Rome, Italy. The CRC recommended that two pesticides, endosulfan and azinphos methyl, and one severely hazardous pesticide formulation (SPHF), Gramoxone Super, be included in the Rotterdam Convention’s Prior Informed Consent (PIC) procedure.

This is the first time the CRC has recommended the inclusion of an SPHF. Gramoxone Super, an herbicide containing paraquat dichloride, used to control weeds in cotton, rice and maize, was proposed for inclusion by Burkina Faso, due to problems caused by this pesticide under conditions of use in its territory.

In addition, the following three industrial chemicals were also recommended for inclusion in the PIC procedure: perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), its salts and precursors; pentaBDE commercial mixtures; and octaBDE commercial mixtures. These three industrial chemicals were recently included in the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. [Rotterdam Convention Press Release]