Rome, Italy, 26 September 2025 - From household gardens to large-scale agriculture, pesticides are widely used around the world, but many carry hidden dangers. At a time when one in eleven people face hunger, the sound management of pesticides, together with sustainable agriculture and food systems that protect both people and the environment, is more important than ever. This week, international experts meeting in Rome took a step towards protecting communities and the environment by recommending that methyl-parathion, a highly toxic pesticide, be added to the global watchlist under the Rotterdam Convention, an international treaty that establishes a Prior Informed Consent (PIC) procedure for the international trade of certain hazardous chemicals and pesticides.
Meeting at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the 21st meeting of the Chemical Review Committee (CRC-21) brought together scientists, government officials, and observers from around the world. Over four days of intense discussion, the Committee recommended the inclusion of methyl-parathion in Annex III to the Rotterdam Convention. Annex III lists chemicals, making them subject to the PIC procedure, which requires exporting countries to obtain the prior informed consent of importing countries before such hazardous chemicals can be exported.
In addition, the Committee reviewed notifications of final regulatory action on seventeen other pesticides that countries had banned or severely restricted due to risks to human health or the environment. The Committee also reviewed three proposals for listing severely hazardous pesticide formulations (SHPFs). SHPFs are pesticide formulations that produce severe health or environmental effects as defined under the Convention. Developing countries and countries with economies in transition experiencing problems may under the Convention propose the listing of an SHPF based on established criteria.
For each chemical recommended for inclusion in Annex III and subject to the control procedure the Committee prepares a draft decision guidance document. Work is to begin now on preparing this document to accompany the recommendation in relation to methyl parathion. If the Committee finalizes the decision guidance document at its twenty-second meeting in 2026, it can be anticipated that the recommendation on methyl-parathion will be considered at the thirteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention (COP-13) in 2027. If approved, methyl-parathion will be added to Annex III, meaning Parties, including developing countries, will be better protected through the right to be informed and to give consent before the pesticide is imported – a crucial step toward sharing responsibility and information, safer trade and stronger protection for farmers, workers, and families worldwide.
By reviewing notifications and making recommendations for action on hazardous pesticides, the Rotterdam Convention continues to support its Parties in making informed choices that safeguard both people and the planet.
NOTES TO EDITORS
Methyl-parathion is an organophosphate insecticide and acaricide formerly used for agricultural use on cotton, garlic, rice, and other crops.
The Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure (PIC) for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade, promotes shared responsibility and facilitates cooperative efforts among its Parties to protect human health and the environment from the adverse effects of hazardous chemicals and pesticides.
The Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions (BRS Secretariat) brings together the three leading multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) that share the common objective of protecting human health and the environment from hazardous chemicals and wastes. http://www.brsmeas.org/
For information on the Rotterdam Convention, contact: Christine Fuell, Executive Secretary a.i. of the Rotterdam Convention, christine.fuell@fao.org
For media inquiries, contact: Maria Cristina Cardenas, Senior Policy and Strategy Advisor of the BRS Secretariat, maria-cristina.cardenas@un.org