    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (2000, Book I)]
    [February 9, 2000]
    [Pages 217-218]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Message to the Senate Transmitting the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior
    Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and
    Pesticides in International Trade
    February 9, 2000

    To the Senate of the United States:
        I transmit herewith, for the advice and consent of the Senate to
    ratification, the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent
    Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in
    International Trade, with Annexes, done at Rotterdam, September 10,
    1998. The report of the Department of State is enclosed for the
    information of the Senate.
        The Convention, which was negotiated under the auspices of the
    United Nations Environment Program and the United Nations Food and
    Agriculture Organization, with the active participation of the United
    States, provides a significant and valuable international tool to
    promote sound risk-based decisionmaking in the trade of certain
    hazardous chemicals. Building on a successful voluntary procedure, the
    Convention requires Parties to exchange information about these
    chemicals, to communicate national decisions about their import, and to
    require that exports from their territories comply with the import
    decisions of other Parties.
        The United States, with the assistance and cooperation of industry
    and nongovernmental organization, plays an important international
    leadership role in the safe management of hazardous chemicals and
    pesticides. This Convention, which assists developing countries in
    evaluating risks and enforcing their regulatory decisions regarding
    trade in such chemicals, advances and promotes U.S. objectives in this
    regard. All relevant Federal agencies support early ratification of the
    Convention for this reason, and we understand that the affected
    industries and interest groups share this view.
        I recommend that the Senate give early and favorable consideration
    to the Convention and

    [[Page 218]]

    give its advice and consent to ratification, subject to the
    understanding described in the accompanying report of the Secretary of
    State.

                                                          William J. Clinton

    The White House,

    February 9, 2000.