The Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade was adopted at a Conference of Plenipotentiaries in Rotterdam on 10 September 1998. During the signing ceremony on 11 September 1998, 61 States and one regional economic integration organization signed the Convention. The Convention is open for signature at UN Headquarters in New York from 12 September 1998 to 10 September 1999. It will enter into force once 50 States have ratified it.

PIC is a procedure that helps participating countries learn more about the characteristics of potentially hazardous chemicals that may be shipped to them, initiates a decision making process on the future import of these chemicals by the countries themselves and facilitates the dissemination of this decision to other countries. The aim is to promote a shared responsibility between exporting and importing countries in protecting human health and the environment from the harmful effects of certain hazardous chemicals being traded internationally.

The PIC procedure is implemented jointly by FAO and UNEP through the FAO/UNEP Joint Programme for the Operation of PIC. The Plant Production and Protection Division of FAO is the lead agency for pesticides and UNEP

Chemicals (IRPTC), is the lead agency for other chemicals.