Day 1: India demands consensus

India has started on the same note that it did at the Stockhlom Convention. It sought consensus based addition of chemicals in the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) list. The COP5 of the Rotterdam Convention has met to decide upon the inclusion of the following chemicals in the Annex III to the convention- chrysotile asbestos, endosulfan, alachlor and aldicarb. On day one of the convention, COP5 parties adopted the agenda without amendments.

India is being keenly watched for the side it takes on chrysotile asbestos and endosulfan.India noted the importance of achieving convention objectives within the framework of sustainable development, calling for development of alternatives to listed chemicals and also emphasized on the importance of consensus based decision making. China came forward in support of the consensus based decision making.