Canada: How to kill a UN convention

TUC Risks August 23rd 2008 accused Canada of trying to kill a UN convention.

The Rotterdam Convention gives countries the right to be informed about, and to refuse, extremely hazardous chemicals and pesticides. For more than two years, the committee has called for chrysotile asbestos (white asbestos - the only form used in the world today) to be put on this 'prior informed consent' list. It meets every criterion in the convention, but in 2006, Canada brought the convention to its knees by blocking a consensus for chrysotile asbestos to go on the list.

Human rights activists are calling for Canada to stop acting like a rogue state and instead allow chrysotile asbestos to be listed under the Rotterdam Convention.