Strasbourg, 11/09/2006 (Agence Europe) - Approving its rapporteur, Johannes Blokland (IND/DEM, NL), the Parliament gave its go-ahead, on 5 September, to Community approval of the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure, on the basis of Articles 133, 175 and 300 of the EU Treaty. The international convention establishes prior consent procedure in full knowledge of the facts, for certain hazardous chemicals and pesticides in international trade. The Rotterdam Convention had been signed by the Community in 1998 under the auspices of the United Nations (FAO and UNEP). The EU's ratification instrument of approval was lodged with the UN Secretariat in December 2002, and the Convention took effect in February 2004. Nonetheless, in January 2006, the EU Council's decision approving ratification (Decision 2003/106/EC) had been cancelled by the European Court of Justice (case C-94/03) as the legal base adopted (solely Article 175) was deemed inadequate. The Court's ruling had not questioned EU ratification but called for adoption of a new decision in line with the ruling. The new decision of ratification, approved by Parliament, is now based on Article 133 (trade) and 175 (environment), together with the relevant provisions of Article 300.