Philippines Opens Consultation on Agrochemical Controls under the Rotterdam and Stockholm Convention

Manila, Philippines, March 2025 - The Philippines is seeking industry and stakeholder input as it considers tightening controls on several widely used agrochemicals under two major international chemical treaties, the Rotterdam and Stockholm Convention.

The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) has opened a public consultation on proposals to list 10 additional chemicals under the Rotterdam Convention and four chemicals under the Stockholm Convention. If adopted, the measures would introduce new notification, restriction or prohibition requirements affecting companies that manufacture, import, export or use these substances.

Chemicals listed under the Rotterdam Convention would become subject to the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) procedure, requiring exporting countries to notify—or obtain consent from—the Philippines before shipping the substances. Under the Stockholm Convention proposals, two chemicals would be banned outright, while the remaining substances would face new use restrictions.

The EMB said the consultation will help inform the Philippines’ position ahead of upcoming international negotiations and support the agency’s obligations under both conventions. Stakeholders are invited to submit position papers to chemicals@emb.gov.ph.

Among the chemicals under consideration are long-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids (LC-PFCAs), paraquat and chlorpyrifos—substances that have already been restricted or banned in a number of jurisdictions worldwide. LC-PFCAs belong to the broader class of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly known as PFAS, which have drawn increasing global scrutiny due to their persistence in the environment.

Chemicals Proposed for Listing Under the Rotterdam Convention

• Carbosulfan

• Fenthion (ultra-low volume formulations at or above 640 grams active ingredient per liter)

• Liquid formulations containing paraquat dichloride at or above 276 grams per liter, corresponding to paraquat ion concentrations of at least 200 grams per liter

• Acetochlor

• Iprodione

• Methyl bromide

• Paraquat

• Chlorpyrifos

• Mercury (as a pesticide)

Chemicals Proposed for Prohibition Under the Stockholm Convention

• Chlorpyrifos

• Chlorinated paraffins with carbon chain lengths of C14–17 and chlorination levels of at least 45 percent by weight

Chemicals Proposed for Restriction Under the Stockholm Convention

• Long-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids, their salts and related compounds (LC-PFCAs)

If finalized, the proposed listings could significantly affect agricultural supply chains and chemical compliance obligations in the Philippines, particularly for companies involved in crop protection products and PFAS-related materials.