Vol. 505 No. 1
132 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the proposed international multilateral agreements under the auspices of his Department being negotiated or prepared; the international organisation, if any, in each case through whose machinery the agreement is being negotiated; if it is proposed to ratify or accede to the agreement if adopted; if so, if legislation will be required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13184/99]
133 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the international multilateral agreements under the auspices of his Department which have not been signed by the State; the date and place it was opened for signature in each case; the international organisation, if any, through whose machinery the agreement was negotiated; if it is proposed to sign the agreement; if so, when; if legislation is required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13199/99]
134 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the international multilateral agreements under the auspices of his Department which have been signed but not ratified or acceded to by the State; the date and place it was opened for signature in each case; the international organisation, if any, through whose machinery the agreement was negotiated; if it is proposed to ratify or accede to the agreement; if so, when; if legislation is required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13214/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 132 to 134, inclusive, together.
There are five international conventions for which my Department has responsibility currently being processed. Details are as follows:
The Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedures for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade which was negotiated through the United Nations Environment Programme – Food and Agriculture Organisation is open for signature between 11 September 1998 and 10 September 1999. It is intended that Ireland will sign the convention by September next. The convention is a mandatory system to prevent the dumping on under-developed countries of chemicals which have been banned or considered unsafe for use in developed countries and replaces a voluntary system in operation for a number of years. The European Union operates a mandatory system under Council Regulation EEC No. 2455/92.
My Department's responsibilities in this area relate to the chemical substances in pesticides only and implementation will be my means of amendment of the European Communities (Export and Import of Certain Dangerous Chemicals) (Pesticides) (Enforcement) Regulations, 1995.
The International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants of 19 March 1991 was negotiated through the International Union of New Varieties of Plants, Geneva and was signed by Ireland, subject to ratification, in February 1992. The Plant Varieties (Proprietary Rights) (Amendment) Act, 1998, gives effect to the provisions of that convention. The implementing regulations are in preparation and are expected to be place by 31 August 1999.
