The code of conduct was amended by the FAO Council in November 2002, as being authorized by the FAO Conference in 2001. The Conference in 2001 had been unable to adopt the code, as a reference to proprietary data was, by number of countries, considered to be at variance with the TRIPS Agreement. This reference was ultimately removed from the Convention text. The code remained in line with FAO’s policy to reduce risk associated with the use of pesticides to health and environment and to support and strengthen sustainable agricultural development. The code now provided the framework for a complete management infrastructure that covers pesticides throughout their life cycle, addressed all areas of pesticide management and provided a point of reference for government and the pesticide industry. The list of stake holders had expanded, the role of training on all matters related to pesticide management had been stressed, the life cycle concept had been incorporated and the promotion of IPM and IVM had been stressed. New terms had been included (GAP, expanded IPM definition) while others had been brought in line with present days usage (risk, hazard). Issues on protective clothing and the need for research on alternatives and applications methods and equipment were addressed. The code called for technical assistance on data evaluation and for post registration surveillance and monitoring studies. Attention was given to the collection of empty containers and the proper siting of pesticide plants. The prohibition of import, sale and purchase of pesticide products falling in WHO class I was suggested. There was a need for licensing schemes for traders, and the reduction of the potential for pesticide accumulation of pesticides. The Article on Information Exchange had been completely changed and simplified. Responsibilities for obsolete pesticides should be shared among all relevant parties.
The history, objectives, operations and benefits of the Rotterdam Convention were revised. Achievements in the period since the adoption of the Convention in 1998 had been the implementation of the interim PIC procedure, including the establishment of the interim chemical review committee and the inclusion of further pesticides and chemicals in the procedure, and the preparation of the First Conference of Parties (COP). Some 128 countries participated in the interim PIC procedures. At present, there were 44 parties to the Convention, which would come into force when 50 countries had become a Party. It was, therefore, expected that the Convention would enter into force by the end of 2003/early 2004 and the first COP was planned in the period August-December 2004. Workshops on the interim procedure had been held and further workshops were planned in Samoa for the Pacific and in China for Asia. Most countries in the region participated in the interim procedure, four experts of the region participated in the Interim Chemical Review Committee.
