The Rotterdam Convention to enter into force became a legally binding instrument for the parties involved. In Colombia, 20 months after the adoption of the Convention (December 30, 2005), took effect the decree 4741, which partially regulates the prevention and management of waste or hazardous waste generated in the framework of integrated. This does not refer to the Rotterdam Convention, however, builds the first regulations governing the management of hazardous waste in Colombia, including chemicals in this Annex III of the Rotterdam Convention.

In 2007, it settled by Act 1159 which regulates the Rotterdam Convention for the application of the Prior Informed Consent for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade. We are looking to involve the community to monitor and control trade in certain chemicals.

The ultimate purpose of this agreement is not to ban the world market of certain chemical products. Instead, you want to give the ability to the parties involved to make decisions of global concern about the actions to be carried out with the chemicals that are in circulation.

Inherently the Rotterdam Convention, there are other international agreements in the field of chemicals management. Some of these are the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, and the Basel Convention, which states the guidelines on the control of transboundary movements of wastes and its disposal. These guidelines form a comprehensive framework to help countries deal with the risks posed by chemicals throughout their life cycle.

Finally, international agreements are tools to guide policy and legislation of the countries, namely directly affect environmental planning of a territory. For example, there is a direct relationship between the Basel Convention and Article 81 of our constitution, since the former regulates the transboundary movements of hazardous waste and the second prohibits the introduction of the same in the Colombian territory, in this way to ensure that we carry the Colombian right to enjoy a healthy environment.