Berne Convention (1906)

The Berne Convention of 1906 is a <a href="/facts/Multilateral_treaty/mvP09VqQ">multilateral treaty</a> negotiated in <a href="/facts/Berne/weUyCRsh">Berne</a>, <a href="/facts/Switzerland/LcGuxeTe">Switzerland</a>, which prohibits the use of <a href="/facts/White_phosphorus/GarX3byj">white phosphorus</a> in the manufacture of <a href="/facts/Matches/EQPsJa7J">matches</a>. The treaty also prohibits the import and sale of such matches.
The background to the treaty was the extensive medical problems such as <a href="/facts/Phossy_jaw/3094yKHs">phossy jaw</a> facing workers in match production. The treaty was concluded on 26 September 1906. It entered into force on 1 January 1912. The Convention remains in force for 48 states. Switzerland is the depositary for the treaty.
In 1925 <a href="/facts/Edward_J._Phelan/4x8MbpcH">Edward J. Phelan</a>, future Director General of the <a href="/facts/International_Labour_Organization/Lek9y8b6">International Labour Organization</a>, stated that the establishment of the ILO "may in one sense be traced to the Berne Convention of 1906", partly as a result of lobbying by the International Association for Labour Legislation.

Berne Convention (1906) open-in-new

Berne Convention (1906)