Australia participates actively in international forums bringing with it a whole-of-government position. These forums promote the safe management of hazardous chemicals. In addition to participating in international forums Australia is also a signatory to several international conventions in this area, namely the Stockholm, Rotterdam and Basel Conventions. Participation in international processes is augmented by regular consultations with non-governmental organisations.
The Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts participates in the following international forums:
- Basel Convention
The Convention puts an onus on exporting countries to ensure that hazardous wastes are managed in an environmentally sound manner in the country of import.
- Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety (IFCS)
Created by the International Conference on Chemical Safety held in Stockholm in April 1994. Established as a new mechanism for cooperation among governments for the promotion of chemical risk management and the environmentally sound management of chemicals.
- Montreal Protocol
The Montreal Protocol is one of the most successful international environment protection agreements. The Protocol sets a mandatory timetable for the phase out of ozone depleting substances such as CFCs, halon, methyl bromide and HCFCs. The Protocol provides for revisions to the phaseout timetable to include new substances and, where appropriate, to accelerate excisting phaseout dates in light of new scientific understanding and technological advances.
- Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
The Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts is active in the OECD's Chemicals Programme, and recently acted as chair of the 'Joint Meeting of the Chemicals Committee and Working Party on Chemicals, Pesticides and Biotechnology' which oversees the activity of the Chemicals Programme (1998-2000).
- Rotterdam Convention - Prior Informed Consent (PIC)
The aim of the Convention is to promote shared responsibility between exporting and importing countries in protecting human health and the environment from the potential hazards of dangerous chemicals.
- Stockholm Convention - Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
The Stockholm Convention, ratified on 20 May 2004, initially covers control measures on twelve POPs - DDT, aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, chlordane, heptachlor, hexachlorobenzene, mirex, toxaphene, polychlorinated biphenyls, dioxins and furans - identified for international action because of their persistence, bioaccumulation, long-range dispersion and toxicity.
- Waigani Convention
Establishes a regional control system in the Pacific for hazardous wastes being shipped from one country to another. The main effect of this Convention is to ban the import of all hazardous and radioactive wastes into South Pacific Forum Island Countries.
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