Bangladesh Moves to Join Rotterdam Convention

Bangladesh is moving to join the Rotterdam Convention, an international agreement designed to improve information-sharing and cooperation on hazardous chemicals and pesticides in global trade. The Cabinet has approved the proposal for Bangladesh’s accession. Membership could help the country assess chemical risks before import decisions, improve chemical tracking and access international technical assistance.

The proposal was approved at a Cabinet meeting held at the Secretariat on Sunday, October 18, under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Gani disclosed the decision at a press briefing in the Press Information Department’s (PID) conference room at the Secretariat. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change initiated the proposal.

Gani said many toxic chemicals and pesticides can have harmful effects that must be understood in advance. Membership would give Bangladesh a better opportunity to assess those risks before deciding whether to import such substances.

He said the Rotterdam Convention is an international agreement that many countries have already joined. Bangladesh had remained outside it until now. After reviewing the matter, the government is moving to formally adopt the convention.

International Agreement With 167 Members

According to a Cabinet Division press release, the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade was adopted on September 10, 1998. It entered into force on February 24, 2004.

The convention covers international trade and the management of hazardous, controlled and banned chemicals. It currently has 167 member countries. All South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) members except Bangladesh and Bhutan have already joined.

Membership could strengthen Bangladesh’s capacity to manage hazardous chemicals through international cooperation. It could also improve access to foreign funding for relevant projects.

The country would receive support for developing a database of hazardous chemicals and tracking their movement. The convention would also help Bangladesh make prior decisions on chemicals listed in its Annex III.

It would further provide a framework for importing and exporting countries to fulfil their shared responsibilities in international trade.

Scientific and Technical Information Sharing

Under Article 14 of the convention, Bangladesh would be able to exchange scientific, technical, economic and legal information on hazardous chemicals and pesticides with other member countries.

Membership would also expand communication with member states and the convention’s secretariat on hazardous chemical management.

Under Article 16, Bangladesh could seek technical assistance from the Rotterdam Convention Secretariat.

Joining the convention would give Bangladesh greater opportunities to access advance information on chemical hazards, strengthen international trade decisions and improve the management of hazardous substances.
//DBTech/JNOR/SMP/MIST//