Explanation:

? The Hazardous Substances Management Division (HSMD) is the nodal point within the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change for management of chemical emergencies and hazardous substances. The main objective of the programme is to promote safe management and use of hazardous substances including hazardous chemicals and hazardous wastes, in order to avoid damage to health and environment. The Division is also the nodal point for the following International Conventions/Agreements viz., (a) Basel Convention on Control of Trans-boundary Movement of Hazardous Waste and their Disposal; (b) Rotterdam Convention on Prior Informed Consent Procedure for certain Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade; (c) Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants;(d) strategic approach to International Chemicals Management; and (e) Minamata Convention on Mercury.

? The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity is an international agreement which aims to ensure the safe handling, transport and use of living modified organisms (LMOs) resulting from modern biotechnology that may have adverse effects on biological diversity taking also into account risks to human health. It was adopted on 29 January 2000 and entered into force on 11 September 2003.