EU Adds Five Pesticides to PIC, Japan Considers Three More Chemicals for Prior Informed Consent

The European Union (EU) voted last week to add five new pesticides to the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) list under the Rotterdam Convention.  Meanwhile, Japan is considering the addition of three other pesticides to the PIC list.  The Rotterdam Convention stipulates that "severely hazardous pesticide formulations that present a hazard under conditions of use in developing countries or countries with economies in transition may also be nominated for inclusion in Annex III." Once listed a "decision guidance document" must be prepared that defines how the chemical will be banned or severely restricted.

The five pesticides added to the PIC list by the EU are guazatine, indolylactic acid, 1,3-dichloropropene, ethalfluralin, and thiobencarb.  Beginning on October 1st of this year these pesticides will be restricted for export to developing countries, i.e., the countries must be informed of the hazards prior to the sale and use in that country.  Meanwhile, last week also saw Japan propose to add alachlor (a herbicide) and aldicarb and endosulfan (both insecticides) to the PIC list.  Japan currently has restrictions on use and export of 36 chemicals under the Rotterdam Convention treaty.

The EU action followed on a decision not to include the five pesticides on the EU list of approved pesticides, which means they will be effectively banned from use in the EU.  This action was taken because no manufacturer successfully applied for continued authorization of these chemicals.

More information on the additions to the PIC list can be found in the Official Journal of the European Union or on the Rotterdam Convention home page.