Appendix C — Minor treaty actions
Minor treaty actions are identifiably minor actions,
generally technical amendments to existing treaties, which do not impact
significantly on the national interest. Minor treaty actions are tabled with a
one-page explanatory statement. The Joint Standing Committee on Treaties has
the discretion to formally inquire into these treaty actions or indicate its acceptance
of them without a formal inquiry and report.
The following minor treaty action was considered by the
Committee on the date indicated. The Committee determined not to hold a formal
inquiry into the treaty and agreed that binding treaty action may be taken.
Minor treaty action tabled on 15 September 2009
Considered by the Committee on 27 October 2009:
n Amendment to Annex
III of the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for
Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade (the
Convention).
The Amendment to Annex III of the Rotterdam
Convention adds tributyltin (TBT) compounds in the pesticide category to the
list of chemicals in Annex III to the Convention. Annex III lists those
chemicals subject to the Convention’s prior informed consent procedure, which
provides for information exchange regarding the import and export of listed
chemicals.
At its fourth meeting held on 27–31 October 2008, the
Conference of the Parties (COP 4) to the Convention agreed by consensus to list
all TBT compounds in Annex III.
The Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the
Arts advises that TBT compounds are hazardous and meet the requirements for
listing under Annex III of the Convention. The Department further argues that support
for the listing is consistent with Australia’s support for the Convention and
that no objections to Australia’s support for listing TBT were raised during
the consultation process in preparation for the COP 4. Australia has domestic
legislation that controls TBT compounds.[1]
Compliance with the Convention will require minor
legislative amendments to include TBT in the list of chemicals referred to in
the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Administration) Regulations 1995,
Schedule 1, and the Customs (Prohibited Exports) Regulations 1958,
Schedule 2.