Chrysotile, a form of asbestos exported by Canada, has been proposed for addition to the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) procedure of the Rotterdam Convention.

At their next meeting in September 2004, countries participating to the Convention will be asked to decide, by consensus, whether they agree or not to the inclusion of chrysotile on the list of chemicals subject to the requirements of the PIC procedure.

The Government of Canada is undertaking consultations to obtain the views of Canadians on this issue. Comments received through this consultation will be considered in the development of a federal position for the September 2004 meeting of the Convention.

The Rotterdam Convention, a multilateral environmental agreement to which Canada is a Party, is based on the principle that export of a chemical covered by the Convention can only take place with the prior informed consent of the importing party. The "Prior Informed Consent" (PIC) procedure of the Convention sets out the process for formally obtaining and disseminating the decisions of importing countries as to whether they wish to receive future shipments of specified chemicals and for ensuring compliance with these decisions by exporting countries.

Canada has a well-articulated domestic regime for the management and controlled use of chrysotile in Canada. These consultations are not designed to review Canada’s domestic policy on the risk management of chrysotile. They are meant to gather the views of Canadians on the potential impacts of the inclusion or non-inclusion of chrysotile under the PIC procedure.

A consultation document has been developed to present information and considerations relevant to the issue. Background documents have also been prepared on the Rotterdam Convention, chrysotile, the health effects of chrysotile and other asbestos fibres and the risk management of chrysotile.

A consultation meeting will be held on April 1, 2004 in Ottawa, Ontario. If you wish to attend this meeting, please indicate your interest by completing and returning the Reply Form (PDF Format) before March 18, 2004.

Written comments can also be submitted to Environment Canada by April 9, 2004, to the attention of:

René Desjardins
Chemicals Control Branch
Environment Canada
351 St. Joseph Blvd., 12th Floor
Gatineau, QC K1A 0H3
Fax: (819) 994-0007
Email: CDS-SDC@ec.gc.ca

Please indicate if you would like your comments to be treated as confidential.

Should you have any questions regarding this meeting and its objectives, please contact René Desjardins at (819) 953-1671.

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