EPA works closely with other U.S. agencies, foreign countries and international organizations to develop and strengthen international standards and legal mechanisms related to the sound management of chemicals. Major current initiatives include: the Prior Informed Consent procedure for the export of pesticides; the global Persistent Organic Pollutants agreement to reduce releases of certain chemicals; and the Long Range Transboundary Air Pollutants Protocol to reduce discharges of organic pollutants. Closer to home, the EPA coordinates with environmental agencies in Canada and Mexico to regulate chemical releases in border regions and the Great Lakes. EPA is also involved in developing an international standard for chemical classification and labeling.

Recommended EPA Web pages

• International Programs: Addressing Toxics, Hazardous Materials, and Solid Waste
  Toxics index page.
• Pesticides: International Activities
  An overview of the international activities related to pesticides.
• Treaties and Legislation: Multinational Environmental Initiatives Related to Chemicals and Wastes
  Provides information on multinational initiatives related to chemical production, use, disposal, and reuse.

Border Issues
Great Lakes, Transboundary Pollution, US-Canada Border, US-Mexico Border

Chemicals Management
Export, Green Chemistry, Import, Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers (PRTRS), Screening

Country & Regional Programs
Canada, Caribbean, Central Europe, China, Eastern Europe, Japan, Latin America, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, Taiwan, Thailand, Western Europe

Environmental Policy
Children's Health, Marine Pollution, Trade

Global Climate Change
Carbon Sequestration, Carbon Sink, Forestry, Greenhouse Gas, Land Use, Methane, Technology Cooperation

Import/Export
Pesticides, Waste

International Visitors

Partners/Networks
International Joint Commission (IJC), NAFTA Technical Working Group on Pesticides, OECD Pesticide Working Group

Pollution Prevention
Binational Toxics Strategy

Radiation

Stratospheric Ozone

Technical Assistance
Environmental Technology Verification, Site Remediation Technologies, Training

Treaties and Agreements
Basel Convention, Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, La Paz Agreement, London Convention, Marpol Agreement, Montreal Protocol, North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation (NAAEC), North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), US-Japan Agreement on Cooperation in Environmental Protection, US-Taiwan Bilateral Agreement In the Field of Environmental Protection, US-Thailand Agreement in the Area of Environmental Protection

Voluntary Standards
ISO 14000

Waste

Water
Marine Pollution, Transboundary