Joint Media Release
29 August 2003
Alexander Downer, Minister For Foreign Affairs and Dr David Kemp, Minister For The Environment And Heritage
Management Of Chemicals
We are pleased to announce that the Government has initiated the process of ratification of two important treaties on management of chemicals - the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants and the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade.
The Rotterdam Convention establishes a prior informed consent notification regime for trade in hazardous chemicals. The Stockholm Convention aims to phase out the use and manufacture of dangerous persistent organic pollutants, such as DDT.
The Government’s decision to proceed with ratification of the treaties follows extensive consultation with state and territories, industry and non-government organisations. The Coalition identified consideration of their ratification as a priority in its platform for the last federal election.
In accordance with the process instituted by the Government in 1996 to improve the openness and transparency of the treaty making process, the conventions have now been referred to the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties.
Media inquiries: Chris Kenny (Mr Downer’s office) 02 6277 7500 - Catherine Job (Dr Kemp’s office) 02 6277 7640