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ROTTERDAM CONVENTION Secretariat of the Rotterdam Convention Secretariat of the Rotterdam Convention United Nations Environment Programme Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Office Address: International Environment House 1 Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00153 Rome, Italy 11–13, chemin des Anémones, 1219 Châtelaine, Geneva, Switzerland Tel.: +39 06 5705 2061 ¦ Fax: +39 06 5705 3224 ¦ E-mail: [email protected] Postal Address: c/o Palais des Nations, 8-14, avenue de la Paix, 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland Tel.: +41 (0) 22 917 8271 ¦ Fax: +41 (0) 22 917 8098 ¦ E-mail: [email protected] Geneva, 19 January 2026 Ref.: RC/GEN/01.2026/01 Subject: Questions to collect and exchange information on implementation of the Rotterdam Convention Dear Madam, Dear Sir, Please allow us to contact you in relation to the collection and exchange of information on implementation of the Rotterdam Convention, as a follow-up to the previous questionnaire on the implementation of Articles 11 to 14 of the Convention and questions circulated on behalf of the Compliance Committee in 2024. The Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Rotterdam Convention, at its twelfth meeting, by decision RC-12/1, requested the Secretariat to streamline information collection requests to Parties, taking into account the periodic questionnaire on the implementation of Articles 11 to 14 of the Convention and the work programme of the Compliance Committee of the Convention. By decision RC-7/2, the COP requested the Secretariat to facilitate the exchange of information and report to each meeting of the Conference of the Parties on the implementation of Articles 11 (paragraph 2), 12 and 14 of the Convention. By decision RC-9/1, the COP, among others, encouraged Parties to provide the Secretariat with information that may assist other Parties to prepare and notify final regulatory actions, including scientific and technical information relevant to risk evaluation and decision making on hazardous chemicals and pesticides; as well as texts of national legislation and other measures adopted by the Parties to implement and enforce the Convention. In response, the Secretariat had developed a periodic questionnaire on the implementation of Articles 11 to 14 of the Convention. The work programme of the Compliance Committee of the Rotterdam Convention for the biennium 2026-2027 was approved by decision RC-12/6 of the Conference of the Parties. This includes a number of activities related to the Committee’s review of systemic issues of general compliance under the Convention as well as an invitation to the Parties to continue to provide information to the Committee, using questions to collect information. In light of the above activities, the Compliance Committee of the Rotterdam Convention, with support from the Secretariat, has developed and updated a set of questions to collect information from Parties on specific challenges being faced by Parties on a number of issues. These questions incorporate and streamline the above-mentioned periodic questionnaire. To: Rotterdam Convention Official Contact Points Rotterdam Convention Designated National Authorities Cc: Representatives of the Permanent Missions to the United Nations Office at Geneva Representatives of Permanent Missions to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in Rome Secretariat of the Rotterdam Convention Page | 2 A PDF version of the questions is attached to the present email and all Parties through their Official Contact Point/s (OCP/s) are invited to respond to the questions by 31 March 2026. A login and password will be provided to each Party’s OCP/s in a separate email, allowing access to an online request to submit information. The password will need to be used to submit information to the Secretariat electronically. Designated national authorities and OCPs are invited to cooperate and coordinate to provide on behalf of a Party one consolidated response to the call for information. The information received will be compiled and made available to the Compliance Committee, in particular at its fourth meeting in June 2026, as well as posted on the Convention website, to help identify possible systemic issues of general compliance of interest to all Parties and inform the Committee’s possible recommendations to the thirteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties. Should you require any further information or have any questions, please feel free to contact the Secretariat (Yvonne Ewang-Sanvincenti; Email: [email protected]), Jost Dittkrist ([email protected]) and Sarra Baccouri ([email protected])). Your kind cooperation and continued commitment is much appreciated. The Secretariat greatly appreciates any information you may be able to share in this respect and looks forward to hearing from you further. Yours sincerely, Rolph Payet Christine Fuell Executive Secretary of the Executive Secretary ad interim Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions of the Rotterdam Convention Questions to collect and exchange information on implementation of the Rotterdam Convention PART A: LAWS, REGULATIONS, POLICIES, PROCEDURES AND OTHER MEASURES TO IMPLEMENT THE ROTTERDAM CONVENTION Question 1: Has your country/organization adopted legislative or administrative measures to implement the Rotterdam Convention (Articles 5, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15)? ☐ Yes Please explain the measure(s), provide a link to the measure(s) and/or attach copy(s) of the measure(s) taken/adopted: [Text box with option to upload documents] Please tick aspects of the Convention's provisions covered by those measures (tick all that apply): ☐ Final regulatory action (Article 5) ☐ Preparation and adoption ☐ Preparation of notifications and transmission to the Secretariat ☐ Import responses (Article 10) ☐ Preparation ☐ Transmission to the Secretariat ☐ Making your own import responses available to those concerned within your jurisdiction ☐ Obligations related to exports of chemicals listed in Annex III (Article 11) ☐ Communicating import responses of other Parties to those concerned within your jurisdiction ☐ Ensuring exporters within your jurisdiction comply with import responses transmitted by other Parties ☐ Ensuring Annex III chemicals are not exported to any importing Party that, in exceptional circumstances, has failed to transmit an import response or transmitted an import response that does not contain an interim decision unless the conditions of Article 11, paragraph 2 are fulfilled ☐ Export notifications (Article 12) ☐ Provision of export notifications to importing Parties ☐ Acknowledgement of receipt of export notifications ☐ Information to accompany exported chemicals (Article 13) ☐ Other measures to establish and strengthen national infrastructures and institutions for the effective implementation of the Convention (Article 15) (please specify) ☐ No Question 2: Has your country/organization faced challenges relating to the adoption or enacting of legislative or administrative measures to implement the Rotterdam Convention? ☐ Yes Please provide further information on what may assist in overcoming those challenges (tick all that apply): ☐ Improved awareness of the country’s obligations relating to the implementation of the Rotterdam Convention at the national level ☐ Making implementation of the Convention a higher policy priority within your country ☐ Conducting a preliminary survey of existing legislation to determine whether there are gaps in adequately implementing the Rotterdam Convention ☐ Supporting your country with specialist technical expertise in legal and chemical management issues for transposing Convention obligations into domestic law ☐ Improved coordination between various relevant entities (i.e. ministries and agencies) ☐ Increased expertise in legislative drafting ☐ Improved access to sources of funding ☐ Other considerations (please specify): [Text box with option to attach documents] ☐ No PART B: NOTIFICATIONS OF FINAL REGULATORY ACTION Question 3: Does your country/organization have a definition of final regulatory action? ☐ Yes (i) Please provide the text, including, where applicable and possible, a translation into English: [Text box with option to attach documents] (ii) Please confirm if this definition matches the definition contained in Article 2 of the Rotterdam Convention ☐ Yes, the definition matches the definition contained in Article 2 of the Rotterdam Convention ☐ No, the definition DOES NOT match the definition contained in Article 2 of the Rotterdam Convention ☐ No Question 4: Has your country/organization faced challenges in relation to: (i) Preparation and adoption of final regulatory actions ☐ Yes ☐ No ☐ Yet to prepare and adopt (ii) Submission of a final regulatory action to the Secretariat within 90 days of it taking effect ☐ Yes ☐ No ☐ Yet to submit If you responded Yes to (i) or (ii), please provide further information on what may assist in overcoming these challenges (tick all that apply): ☐ Improved awareness of the obligation to notify final regulatory actions at the national level ☐ Improved awareness of the obligation to submit notifications of final regulatory actions within 90 days of it taking effect ☐ According a higher policy priority within your country for the: ☐ Preparation of final regulatory actions ☐ Adoption of final regulatory actions ☐ Submission of notifications of final regulatory actions ☐ Improved coordination among relevant entities (i.e. ministries and agencies) ☐ Increased capacity to undertake risk evaluations ☐ Improved availability of relevant information (e.g. on uses in your country, exposure etc.) ☐ Improved understanding of the Annex I information requirements and Annex II criteria ☐ Availability of legal, technical and chemicals management expertise to prepare final regulatory actions ☐ Other considerations (please specify): [Text box with option to attach documents] PART C: IMPORTS OF CHEMICALS LISTED IN ANNEX III Question 5: Has your country/organization communicated its own import responses to those concerned within the jurisdiction (e.g. customs, importers etc.) ☐ Yes ☐ No Question 6: Has your country/organization faced challenges in relation to: (i) Preparation of import responses ☐ Yes ☐ No (ii) Transmission of import responses to the Secretariat ☐ Yes ☐ No (iii) Communication of own import responses to those concerned within the jurisdiction (e.g. customs, importers) ☐ Yes ☐ No If you responded yes to (i), (ii) or (iii), please provide further information on what may assist in overcoming those challenges (tick all that apply): ☐ Improved awareness of the obligation related to import responses at the national level ☐ Making preparation and transmission of import responses a higher policy priority within your country ☐ Improved coordination between various interested entities (i.e., ministries and agencies), with the aim of identifying potential challenges ☐ Improved coordination and cooperation between other national stakeholders ☐ Adoption of legislative or administrative measures ☐ Improved access to information on the hazards/risks posed by the chemical ☐ Improved access to information on domestic production and/or use of the chemical ☐ Better understanding of the availability and use of alternatives ☐ Access to specialist technical and/or other expertise in chemicals management ☐ Other (please specify): [Text box with option to attach documents] Question 7: Does your country import chemicals listed in Annex III to the Rotterdam Convention? ☐ Yes Please complete and upload the Excel sheet (Form 1). [Excel sheet download and upload] ☐ No information available ☐ No PART D: EXPORTS OF CHEMICALS LISTED IN ANNEX III Question 8: Has your country/organization faced challenges in relation to: (i) Communication of the import responses of other Parties to those concerned within the jurisdiction (e.g. exporters) ☐ Yes, some challenges faced ☐ No (ii) Taking measures to ensure that exporters within your jurisdiction comply with decisions in each response ☐ Yes, some challenges faced ☐ No (iii) Ensuring that Annex III chemicals are not exported to a Party that failed to transmit an import response unless the conditions of Article 11, paragraph 2 are fulfilled ☐ Yes, some challenges faced ☐ No Please provide information on what may assist in overcoming these challenges (tick all that apply): ☐ Adoption of legislative or administrative measures ☐ Improved coordination and cooperation between national stakeholders ☐ Improved communication channels for information exchange ☐ Improved compliance with the measures by exporters / Illegal trade in chemicals ☐ Provision of further guidance (please specify): ☐ Other considerations (please specify): [Text box with option to attach documents] Question 9: Does your country/organization have mechanisms to enable it to respond to requests by importing Parties for advice and assistance? ☐ Yes Please provide further information on whether such mechanisms are intended to (tick all that apply): ☐ Help importing Parties transmit their response concerning the future import of the chemical ☐ Respond to requests for explicit consent ☐ Strengthen importing Parties' capacities and capabilities to manage chemicals safely during their life-cycle ☐ Other (please specify): [Text box with option to attach documents] ☐ No Question 10: How does your country/organization ensure that Annex III chemicals are not exported to any importing Party that, in exceptional circumstances, has failed to transmit an import response or has transmitted an interim response that does not contain an interim decision unless the exceptions set out in paragraph 2 of Article 11 are met? [Text box with option to attach documents] Question 11: Has your country/organization applied the exceptions listed in paragraph 2 of Article 11 as the basis for exporting Annex III chemicals to a Party/Parties that has/have failed to transmit a response within the one-year period from the date on which the Secretariat has informed Parties that the Party/Parties has/have failed to transmit a response? ☐ Yes If yes, please indicate which were applicable (click all that apply) ☐ The chemical was registered as a chemical in the importing Party at the time of import ☐ Evidence exists that the chemical has previously been used in, or imported into, the importing Party and in relation to which no regulatory action to prohibit its use has been taken ☐ Explicit consent to the import was sought and received through the designated national authority of the importing Party. ☐ No Question 12: Can your country/organization share information on the measurable impact of listing chemicals in Annex III to the Convention? ☐ Yes Please provide further information, including links to relevant websites and attach relevant documents. [Text box with option to attach documents] ☐ No Question 13: Does your country export chemicals listed in Annex III to the Rotterdam Convention? ☐ Yes Please complete and upload the excel sheet (Form 2). [Excel sheet download and upload] ☐ No information available ☐ No PART E: TRADE IN BANNED/SEVERELY RESTRICTED CHEMICALS AND EXPORT NOTIFICATIONS Question 14: Does your country/organization export chemicals that have been banned or severely restricted in its territory? ☐ Yes Please complete and upload the Excel sheet (Form 3). [Excel sheet download and upload] Have export notifications been provided to the importing Party when chemicals that your country has banned or severely restricted and that are not listed in Annex III have been exported from your territory to another Party, in accordance with Article 12? ☐ Yes ☐ No ☐ No information available ☐ No Question 15: If your country/organization has faced challenges with providing an export notification, please provide information on what may assist in overcoming these challenges (tick all that apply): ☐ Assistance with preparation of the export notification ☐ Collection of information specified in Annex V ☐ Other challenges, please specify: [Text box with option to attach documents] ☐ Assistance with importing country contacts for transmission of the export notification to the importing Party ☐ Assistance with other challenges related to preparation and/or transmission of the export notification to the importing Party (Please specify): [Text box with option to attach documents] Question 16: Does your country receive imports of chemicals from other Parties that are banned or severely restricted in the exporting Party? ☐ Yes Please complete and upload the Excel sheet (Form 4). [Excel sheet download and upload] Has your country/organization received export notifications from the exporting Parties? ☐ No ☐ Yes Did your country/organization acknowledge receipt of the first export notification received after the adoption of the final regulatory action?  ☐ Yes ☐ No Please provide further information on what may assist in overcoming any challenges faced with acknowledging receipt of export notifications (tick all that apply): ☐ Strengthened awareness of the Rotterdam Convention at the national level ☐ Adoption of legislative or administrative measures ☐ Improved coordination and cooperation between national stakeholders ☐ Additional information on the hazards/risks posed by the chemical ☐ Information on alternatives to the chemical ☐ Specialist technical and/or other expertise in chemicals management ☐ Other considerations (Please specify): [Text answer] ☐ No information available ☐ No PART F: INFORMATION TO ACCOMPANY EXPORTED CHEMICALS Question 17: Does your country/organization have measures in place requiring that whenever a Harmonized System customs code has been assigned to an Annex III chemical, the shipping document bears that code when exported? ☐ Yes ☐ No Question 18: Does your country/organization have measures in place requiring that Annex III chemicals and banned and severely restricted chemicals, when exported, are subject to labelling requirements that ensure adequate availability of information with regard to risks and/or hazards to human health or the environment? ☐ No ☐ Yes Please indicate the chemicals subject to such labelling requirements (select all that apply): ☐ Chemicals listed in Annex III ☐ Chemicals banned or severely restricted in your country's territory ☐ Chemicals subject to environmental or health labelling requirements in your country's territory Do these measures require that the information on the label is given in one or more of the official languages of the importing country? ☐ Yes ☐ No Question 19: Do your country/organization have measures in place requiring that a safety data sheet is sent to each importer of Annex III chemicals and banned or severely restricted chemicals that are to be used for occupational purposes? ☐ Yes Please indicate which of the following is subject to these measures: ☐ Annex III chemicals to be used for occupational purposes ☐ Banned or severely restricted chemicals to be used for occupational purposes Do the measures require that the safety data sheet: ☐ Follows an internationally recognized format ☐ Sets out the most up-to-date information available ☐ Is provided in one or more of the official languages of the importing country ☐ No PART G: INFORMATION EXCHANGE Question 20: Can your country share any of the following scientific, technical, economic and legal information, including toxicological, ecotoxicological and safety information, concerning the chemicals within the scope of the Rotterdam Convention? Scientific information: ☐ Yes Please provide further information, including links to relevant websites and attach relevant documents. [Text box with option to attach documents] ☐ No Technical information: ☐ Yes Please provide further information, including links to relevant websites and attach relevant documents. [Text box with option to attach documents] ☐ No Economic information: ☐ Yes Please provide further information, including links to relevant websites and attach relevant documents. [Text box with option to attach documents] ☐ No Legal information: ☐ Yes Please provide further information, including links to relevant websites and attach relevant documents. [Text box with option to attach documents] ☐ No Question 21: Can your country provide publicly available information on domestic regulatory actions relevant to the objectives of this Convention and/or domestic regulatory actions that substantially restrict one or more uses of the chemical? ☐ Yes Please provide further information, including links to relevant websites and attach relevant documents.  [Text box with option to attach documents] ☐ No Question 22: Does your country possess any of the following information that may assist other Parties to prepare and notify final regulatory actions? Scientific and technical information relevant to risk evaluation and decision making on hazardous chemicals and pesticides: ☐ Yes Please provide further information, including links to relevant websites and attach relevant documents. [Text box with option to attach documents] ☐ No Texts of national legislation and other measures adopted to implement and enforce the Convention: ☐ Yes Please provide further information, including links to relevant websites and attach relevant documents. [Text box with option to attach documents] ☐ No Other information that may assist other Parties to prepare and notify final regulatory actions: ☐ Yes Please provide further information, including links to relevant websites and attach relevant documents. [Text box with option to attach documents] ☐ No PART H: ADDITIONAL NEEDS AND COMMENTS Assistance required from other Parties Question 23: Is there anything, in addition to the elements mentioned above, that could help your country/organization address challenges being faced in relation to implementation and enforcement of the Rotterdam Convention or do you have any other additional comments/suggestions? [Large text answer for comprehensive response] Saatja: "BRS Secretariat (No-Reply)" <[email protected]> Teema: Second reminder – Invitation to respond to questions (Deadline 31 March 2026) and COP12 calls for information Kuupäev: 2026-03-19 14:28 Tähelepanu! Tegemist on välisvõrgust saabunud kirjaga. Tundmatu saatja korral palume linke ja faile mitte avada. Dear Sir, dear Madam, Further to the Secretariat’s previous emails, we would reiterate the invitation to Parties to respond to the questions to collect and exchange information on implementation of the Rotterdam Convention. Kindly bear in mind that Parties are invited to respond by 31 March 2026. We thank those Parties who have already responded to the questions and please be assured that the Secretariat remains available should any assistance be required in this matter. Kind regards, Secretariat of the Rotterdam Convention United Nations Environment Programme International Environment House 1 11–13, chemin des Anémones, 1219 Châtelaine, Geneva, Switzerland Postal Address: c/o Palais des Nations, 8-14, avenue de la Paix, 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland From: BRS Secretariat (No-Reply) Sent: Thursday, 26 February 2026 17:47 Subject: Reminder – invitation to respond to questions (Deadline 31 March 2026) and COP12 calls for information Dear Sir, Dear Madam, Further to the email transmitted on 22 January 2026, the Secretariat would like to remind all Parties that they are invited to respond to the questions to collect and exchange information on implementation of the Rotterdam Convention by 31 March 2026. A PDF version of the letter and questions to the Parties have been made available on the Rotterdam Convention website at https://www.pic.int/TheConvention/Communications/tabid/3464/language/en-US /Default.aspx As mentioned in the letter, a login and password have been provided to each Party’s OCP/s in a separate email, allowing access to an online request to submit information. We would please recall that Designated national authorities and OCPs are invited to cooperate and coordinate to provide on behalf of a Party one consolidated response to the call for information. In addition, please note that a call for information has also been sent to Parties to the Rotterdam Convention in follow-up to COP-12. The letter and related information are available on: https://www.pic.int/tabid/10261/. The calls for information include: • Invitations to Parties to communicate to the Secretariat national definitions for the term “pesticide”, information that might assist other Parties to prepare and notify final regulatory actions; • Information on resources and tools available to support governments and other stakeholders in implementing effective, best practice chemical management systems and their experiences in using such resources and tools, as well as information on provisions under the Rotterdam Convention that may be relevant for quality standards in the area of agriculture and food production. Please do not hesitate to contact the Secretariat should you have any questions or need further information on this matter. The Secretariat expresses its appreciation for those Parties that have already submitted responses or information and looks forward to receiving as many submissions as possible, in particular to inform the work of the Compliance Committee. Kind regards, Secretariat of the Rotterdam Convention United Nations Environment Programme International Environment House 1 11–13, chemin des Anémones, 1219 Châtelaine, Geneva, Switzerland Postal Address: c/o Palais des Nations, 8-14, avenue de la Paix, 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland