An inter-ministerial delegation from India participated in the Conference of the Parties (COPs) to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm (BRS) Conventions held in Geneva.
The Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm (BRS) Conventions
- The Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Conventions are three key international environmental agreements aimed at protecting human health and the environment from hazardous chemicals and wastes.
- The three conventions work together to regulate hazardous substances throughout their lifecycle (production, trade, use, and disposal).
- Since 2010, they have held joint meetings (COPs) to enhance cooperation.
- India is a party to all three conventions.
- Theme: The theme of BRS COPs 2025 is “Make visible the invisible: Sound management of chemicals and wastes.”
Conference of the Parties (COPs)
- Meaning: The Conference of the Parties (COPs) refers to the formal meetings of the countries that are parties (signatories) to a particular international treaty.
- Examples: The most well-known COPs are those held under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), BRS etc.
- COPs are the supreme decision-making bodies of the respective conventions.
- In COPs, Countries (or “Parties”) meet annually (UNFCCC) or at regular intervals to review progress on the agendas of the conventions and to negotiate new commitments.
- The BRS COP 2025 included:
- 17th COP to the Basel Convention (BC COP-17),
- 12th COP to the Rotterdam Convention (RC COP-12)
- 12th COP to the Stockholm Convention (SC COP-12)
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Basel Convention (1989)
- Full Name: Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal
- Adopted: 1989, Entered into Force: 1992
- Objective: To reduce the movement of hazardous waste between nations, particularly from developed to less developed countries.
- Key Provisions:
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- Promotes waste minimization and environmentally sound disposal.
- Bans hazardous waste shipments to countries lacking proper disposal facilities.
Rotterdam Convention (1998)
- Full Name: Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade
- Adopted: 1998, Entered into Force: 2004
- Objective: To promote shared responsibility in the international trade of hazardous chemicals and pesticides.
- Key Provisions:
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- Implements a Prior Informed Consent (PIC) procedure for listed chemicals.
- Requires exporters to provide information on hazards.
- Allows countries to ban or restrict chemicals listed in Annex III.
Stockholm Convention (2001)
- Full Name: Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
- Adopted: 2001, Entered into Force: 2004
- Objective: To eliminate or restrict the production and use of persistent organic pollutants (POPs).
- Persistent Organic Pollutants: POPs are toxic chemicals that persist in the environment, bioaccumulate, and pose risks to health and ecosystems.
- They are often byproducts of industrial processes, pesticides, or other chemicals.
- Examples of POPs: DDT, dieldrin, aldrin, endrin, heptachlor, Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dioxins, and furans.
- Key Provisions:
- Bans or restricts “Dirty Dozen” chemicals (e.g., DDT, PCBs, dioxins).
- Promotes safer alternatives.
- Addresses unintentional POPs (e.g., from industrial processes).
- Annex A: Chemicals to be eliminated;
- Annex B: Restricted use;
- Annex C: Unintentional release to be minimized.
| Key Differences |
| Convention |
Focus Area |
Mechanism |
| Basel |
Hazardous waste trade & disposal |
Controls transboundary waste movements |
| Rotterdam |
Hazardous chemicals & pesticides |
Prior Informed Consent (PIC) procedure |
| Stockholm |
Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) |
Elimination/restriction of POPs |
India’s Participation in BRS COP 2025
- India has advocated for Global Action on Chemicals and Waste at BRS COPs 2025.
- India’s domestic approach to implement BRS conventions:
- National laws like the Environment (Protection) Act
- Rules for Hazardous Waste and E-Waste Management
- Continued investment in technical and institutional infrastructure
- Meeting on Plastic Pollution: India participated in a meeting on plastic pollution hosted by Norway.
India’s stand on Chlorpyrifos
- India opposed listing Chlorpyrifos under Annex A of Stockholm Convention citing food security concerns and lack of alternatives.
- Chlorpyrifos is a hazardous insecticide nominated by the EU for global phase-out in 2021 due to adverse neurodevelopmental and health effects.
- WHO classifies Chlorpyrifos as moderately hazardous; US EPA considers it a possible human carcinogen.
- India currently approves Chlorpyrifos for multiple crops (rice, sugarcane, cotton, vegetables, fruits).
- India previously opposed listing of Endosulfan in 2010 under the same convention.
Additional Reading: Chlorpyrifos Pesticide
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