Treaty

Rotterdam Convention on the prior informed consent procedure for certain hazardous chemicals and pesticides in international trade

Parties with reservations, declarations and objections

Party Reservations / Declarations Objections
Austria Yes No
Botswana Yes No
China Yes No
Denmark Yes No
Estonia Yes No
EU (European Union) Yes No
Iran Yes No
Israel Yes No
Moldova Yes No
Netherlands, the Kingdom of the Yes No
New Zealand Yes No
Norway Yes No
Palestine Yes No
Russian Federation Yes No
Syria Yes Yes

Austria

27-08-2002

The Republic of Austria declares in accordance with Article 20 (2) of the Convention that it accepts both of the means of dispute settlement mentioned in Paragraph 2 as compulsory in relation to any party accepting an obligation concerning one or both of these means of dispute.

Botswana

05-02-2008

[Pursuant to] paragraph 2 of Article 20, the Government of the Republic of Botswana declares that, with respect to any dispute concerning the interpretation or application of the Convention, it recognises both means of dispute settlement set out in this provision, as compulsory in relation to any Party accepting the same obligation under the Convention. This Declaration shall remain valid for the period that the Government of the Republic of Botswana is a party to the Convention.

China

22-03-2005

In accordance with the provision of article 138 of the Basic Law of the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China and article 153 of the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, the Government of the People's Republic of China decides that the Convention shall apply to the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China; it shall not apply to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China until the Government of China notifies otherwise.


26-08-2008

In accordance with the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, the Government of the People’s Republic of China decides that the Convention shall apply to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.


05-11-2020

… the Government of the People’s Republic of China is provisionally unable to accept [Annex VII] until further notification otherwise.

Denmark

15-01-2004

With a territorial exclusion in respect of the Faroe Islands and Greenland.

Estonia

13-06-2006

With respect to any dispute concerning the interpretation or application of this Convention, the Republic of Estonia recognizes both of the means of dispute settlement stated in Article 20, paragraph 2 as compulsory in relation to any Party accepting the same obligation.

EU (European Union)

20-12-2002

The European Community declares that, in accordance with the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 175(l) thereof, it is competent to enter into international agreements, and to implement the obligations resulting therefrom, which contribute to the pursuit of the following objectives:
Preserving, Protecting and improving the quality of the environment;
protecting human health;
prudent and rational utilisation of natural resources;
promoting measures at international level to deal with regional or worldwide environmental problems.
Moreover, the European Community declares that it has already adopted legal instruments, including a Regulation of the European Parliament and the Council concerning the export and import of dangerous chemicals, binding on its Member States, covering matters governed by this Convention, and will submit and update, as appropriate, a list of those legal instruments to the Secretariat of the Convention.
The European Community is responsible for the performance of those obligations resulting from the Convention which are covered by Community law in force.
The exercise of Community competence is, by its nature, subject to continuous development.

Iran

27-05-2020

...The Islamic Republic of Iran actively participated in the COP’s negotiations, envisioning a facilitative, stimulating and consensual compliance mechanism for the Convention. We were also among those Parties who argued that a successful compliance arrangement, and effective implementation of the Convention, is contingent upon technology transfer, capacity building and adequate financial resources, which have yet to be realized. As you are fully aware, the ninth meeting of the Conference of the Parties failed to reach agreement by consensus and decision RC-9/7 was [adopted] by voting, much to our regret leaving little prospect of its successful implementation.
With further regard to the Islamic Republic of Iran, and notwithstanding our continued compliance with the commitments under the Convention, the blatant unlawful unilateral sanctions against us constitute a major obstacle to undertake further obligations.
In view of the [foregoing], and in accordance with paragraph 3 (b) of article 22 of the Convention, this is to notify the non-acceptance of the ‘Annex VII on the procedures and mechanisms on compliance with the Rotterdam Convention’ as adopted through decision RC-9/7...

Israel

03-10-2011

Pursuant to article 20, paragraph 2 of the Convention, the Government of the State of Israel declares that with respect to any dispute concerning the interpretation or application of the convention, it recognizes only (a) Arbitration in accordance with procedures to be adopted by the Conference of the
Parties in an annex as soon as practicable.


29-03-2018

The Permanent Mission of Israel to the United Nations presents its compliments to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, in his capacity as depositary of the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade, dated 10 September 1998, and has the honor to refer to the Palestinian request to accede to this Convention (Reference number C.N.807.2017.TREATIES-XXVII.14).
‘Palestine’ does not satisfy the criteria for statehood under international law and lacks the legal capacity to join the aforesaid Convention both under general international law and the terms of bilateral Israeli-Palestinian agreements.
The Government of Israel does not recognize ‘Palestine’ as a State, and wishes to place on record, for the sake of clarity, its position that it does not consider ‘Palestine’ a party to the Convention and regards the Palestinian request for accession as being without legal validity and without effect upon Israel’s treaty relations under the Convention.

Moldova

27-01-2005

According to article 20 of the Convention, the Republic of Moldova declares that [it] accepts both means of dispute settlement, mentioned in paragraph 2 of the article, as compulsory in relation to any Party accepting the same obligation.

Netherlands, the Kingdom of the

17-02-2010

The Kingdom of the Netherlands declares, in accordance with paragraph 2 of Article 20 of the Rotterdam Convention on the prior informed consent procedure for certain hazardous chemicals and pesticides in international trade, that it accepts both means of dispute settlement referred to in that paragraph as compulsory in relation to any Party accepting one or both means of dispute settlement.

New Zealand

23-09-2003

With the following territorial exclusion: ".....consistent with the constitutional status of Tokelau and taking into account the commitment of the Government of New Zealand to the development of self-government for Tokelau through an act of self-determination under the Charter of the United Nations, this ratification shall not extend to Tokelau unless and until a Declaration to this effect is lodged by the Government of New Zealand with the Depositary on the basis of appropriate consultation with that territory."

Norway

25-10-2001

In accordance with article 20 (2), [Norway declares that], with respect to any dispute concerning the interpretation or application of the Convention, it recognizes (b) Submission of the dispute to the International Court of Justice.

Palestine

18-03-2019

The Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine to the United Nations presents his compliments to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, in his capacity as Depositary, and has the honor to refer to depositary notification C.N.189.2018.TREATIES-XXVII.14, dated 4 April 2018, conveying a communication of Israel regarding the accession of the State of Palestine to the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade, 10 September 1998.
The Government of the State of Palestine regrets the position of Israel and wishes to recall the United Nations General Assembly resolution 67/19 of 29 November 2012 according to which Palestine was accorded a ‘Non-member Observer State status in the United Nations’. In this regard, Palestine is a State recognized by the United Nations General Assembly on behalf of the international community.
As a State Party to the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade, 10 September 1998, which entered into force on 29 March 2018 for the State of Palestine, the State of Palestine will exercise its rights and honor its obligations with respect to all States Parties. The State of Palestine trusts that its rights and obligations will be equally respected by its fellow States Parties.

Russian Federation

04-11-2020

… the Russian Federation is unable to accept Annex VII “Procedures and mechanisms on compliance with the Rotterdam Convention”.

Syria

24-09-2003

The Government of the Syrian Arab Republic has reviewed the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade, which was signed in 1998. Having given it thorough consideration:
It declares that it has already ratified the above-mentioned Convention by virtue of legislative decree No. 35 of 13 July 2003, and that it will fully comply with and respect all its provisions, while confirming that the ratification of this Convention by the Syrian Arab Republic does not in any way constitute a recognition of Israel, and that the provisions of the Convention do not imply that the Syrian Arab Republic has to deal with that State.

Objection Israel, 13-01-2004

The Government of the State of Israel has noted that the instrument of ratification of the Syrian Arab Republic to the abovementioned Convention contains a declaration with respect to the State of Israel. The Government of the State of Israel considers that such a declaration, which is explicitly of a political nature, is incompatible with the purposes and objectives of the Convention.
The Government of the State of Israel therefore objects to the aforesaid declaration made by the Syrian Arab Republic.





09-10-2020

[The] Syrian Arab Republic does not accept the amendment adopted by decision RC-9/7 of the ninth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention on the [Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade].

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