The Rotterdam Convention aims to ensure that hazardous chemicals are traded in a safe and responsible manner, protecting human health and the environment.

The Rotterdam Convention entered into force on February 24, 2004.

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is responsible for administering the Rotterdam Convention.

The Prior Informed Consent (PIC) procedure is a key mechanism of the Rotterdam Convention that requires exporters to obtain consent from importing countries before exporting certain hazardous chemicals.

The PIC procedure applies to pesticides, industrial chemicals, and heavy metals that are listed in Annex III of the Rotterdam Convention.

Exporters must provide importing countries with information on the chemical's identity and properties, its intended use, and its potential risks to human health and the environment.

As of 2023, over 150 countries have ratified or acceded to the Rotterdam Convention.

The Rotterdam Convention includes specific provisions on plastic waste, such as the requirement for prior informed consent for the export of plastic waste.

The Rotterdam Convention Amendment, adopted in 2019, specifically addresses plastic waste and includes new provisions on the export of plastic waste.

The Rotterdam Convention Amendment on plastic waste aims to reduce the generation of plastic waste, improve the management of plastic waste, and promote the recycling of plastic waste.

The Rotterdam Convention Amendment on plastic waste entered into force on January 1, 2023.

All countries that have ratified the Rotterdam Convention are required to implement the Rotterdam Convention Amendment on plastic waste.

The Rotterdam Convention Amendment on plastic waste includes a ban on the export of plastic waste to non-OECD countries, a requirement for prior informed consent for the export of plastic waste, and a requirement for exporters to label plastic waste shipments.

The Rotterdam Convention Amendment on plastic waste will help to reduce plastic pollution by reducing the amount of plastic waste that is exported to developing countries, improving the management of plastic waste in developing countries, and promoting the recycling of plastic waste in developing countries.

The implementation of the Rotterdam Convention Amendment on plastic waste faces challenges such as the lack of infrastructure for managing plastic waste in developing countries, the high cost of recycling plastic waste, and the lack of political will to address plastic pollution.