The Rotterdam Convention promotes and enforces transparency in the importation of hazardous chemicals and whilst it explicitly excludes waste, its implementation may lead to bans on listed chemicals. Some of these chemicals may occur in stockpiles of obsolete chemicals such as pesticides that have been identified as a major waste management challenge. Extended producer responsibility schemes will be used to effectively manage obsolete chemicals.
A study to investigate the extent of manufacture, use, import and export of new chemicals listed in the Rotterdam Convention will determine whether South Africa should ratify the newly added chemicals. This document will be finalised in 2012. A process to identify and ban pesticides and industrial chemicals listed in Annex lll (that South Africa has not yet banned) has started. Responsible departments will finalise arrangements for banning orders in 2012.