Hazardous chemicals and pesticides, international trade: Rotterdam Convention, prior informed consent procedure

The committee adopted the report by Hans BLOKLAND (EDD, NL) endorsing the proposal to approve the Rotterdam Convention, subject to a few amendments (under the consultation procedure). It wanted to amend the legal basis of the proposal, arguing that Article 175(1) was more appropriate than Article 133, given that the aim of the Convention was essentially to protect human health and the environment. Such a change in the legal basis would mean that the Convention would not be the exclusive competence of the Community, as some matters would fall within the competence of the Member States. The committee therefore adopted an amendment changing the relevant article of the proposal to reflect this. Lastly, it called for the Commission to receive a seat in the subsidiary bodies established by the Convention.�