Prior to the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Conventions (BRS COP) in Geneva, civil society banned chlorpyrifos

Chlorpyrifos is an organophosphate pesticide, acaricide, and miticide, with the chemical formula C₉H₁₁Cl₃NO₃PS. It is utilized to manage soil-dwelling and foliage-feeding insects in various crops such as cotton, rice, soybeans, wheat, and corn.

As a neurotoxic agent, it interferes with the enzyme acetylcholinesterase, which is essential for proper nerve function. Health-related issues associated with chlorpyrifos include diminished IQ, developmental delays, memory impairment, and congenital anomalies, particularly affecting unborn children.

In cases of severe exposure, it can lead to convulsions, respiratory failure, or even death. Environmental issues arise from its bioaccumulative and persistent nature, allowing it to travel vast distances and contaminate distant ecosystems, including polar regions.

It poses risks to pollinators and aquatic organisms, jeopardizing food webs and biodiversity. Although chlorpyrifos is not currently listed under the Stockholm or Rotterdam Conventions, there is a global movement advocating for its inclusion.

The Stockholm Convention (2004) addresses Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) with the aim of safeguarding human health and ecosystems from these enduring, bioaccumulative, and toxic substances. The initial emphasis was on the 'Dirty Dozen,' a group of 12 highly hazardous chemicals.

Key components include Annex A, which lists chemicals slated for elimination; Annex B, which outlines chemicals subject to restrictions; and Annex C, which focuses on reducing the release of certain chemicals. The Global Environment Facility (GEF) serves as the financial mechanism supporting this initiative.