spoiling act: A group of activists has alleged that a few countries led by Canada are sabotagingun's Rotterdam Convention. The ten-year old convention aims to control global trade in hazardous chemicals.

Environmental, gender, labour and health groups from India and abroad have, in a joint statement, said the countries, including India and many other developing countries, are blocking implementation of the convention that 120 countries have ratified.

In 2006, over 100 countries approved a recommendation made by a chemical review committee formed under the convention which said chrysotile asbestos was harmful and be listed in the