Liz Friedlander (202) 225-1564
Liz.Friedlander@mail.house.gov

James Ryder (202) 225-0020
James.Ryder@mail.house.gov

Today the House Committee on Agriculture approved H.R. 3849, a bill necessary to ratify three international treaties the use of pesticides to protect human and environmental health. Until the U.S. ratifies the treaty, which is dependent on passage of H.R. 3849, U.S. negotiators cannot participate in the discussions currently underway to modify the current agreements. The bill was ordered to be reported favorably to the House.

Last week, the Committee held a hearing to review H.R. 3849 which involves three separate treaties that govern international production, use, and distribution of certain pesticides and hazardous chemicals. The treaties involved include: the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (PICs), the Protocol on Persistent Organic Pollutants to the Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP POPs), and the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade (POPs).

A copy of H.R. 3849 is available on the Committee website: http://democrats-agriculture.house.gov/inside/Legislation/H.R.3849.pdf

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http://democrats-agriculture.house.gov

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