Mandate:
Article 4, paragraph 1 of the Basel Convention provides that Parties exercising their right to prohibit the import of hazardous wastes or other wastes for disposal shall inform the other Parties of their decision pursuant to Article 13. Article 13, paragraph (2) obliges the Parties to inform each other through the Secretariat of:
- decisions made by them not to consent (totally or partially) to imports of hazardous or other wastes for disposal within the area under their national jurisdiction;
- decisions taken by them to limit or ban the export of hazardous or other wastes.
When a Party wishes to prohibit or restrict the import / export of hazardous or other wastes, a notification indicating that it is transmitted pursuant to Article 13, paragraph 2 (c) must be sent to the Secretariat for transmittal to all Parties. Once such a communication has been received by the Secretariat, the obligations under Article 4, paragraph 1 (b), as well as those under other provisions, shall apply.
Frequency:
As soon as possible following a decision to prohibit or restrict the import / export of hazardous wastes or other wastes and / or as soon as possible after any subsequent significant change to the information transmitted to the Secretariat.
Format:
The Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention at its tenth meeting (October 2011) adopted a standardized format for reporting import and export prohibitions and restrictions of hazardous and other wastes or significant change thereto (Decision BC-10/11). This form was revised at the thirteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties in May 2017 (Decision BC-13/9) and can be accessed here.
Procedures and processes of the Secretariat:
Parties that have decided to restrict or prohibit the import or export of hazardous wastes or other wastes must send a specific notification using the appropriate format to the Secretariat for transmittal to all Parties. Once such a communication has been received by the Secretariat, the obligations under Articles 4, paragraph 1 (b), as well as those under other provisions, shall apply.
Information on import and/or export prohibitions or restrictions reported through designated focal points to the Secretariat under question 3 (a) - (f) of the national reporting questionnaire under Article 13, paragraph 3 will be regarded as notifications under Article 4, paragraphs 1 (a) and (b) or under Article 13, paragraphs 2 (c) and (d).
The Secretariat makes available to all stakeholders on the Basel Convention website the information received from Parties concerning import and export prohibitions and restrictions of hazardous and other wastes.
Notifications:
For further information and to access the notifications received from Parties on import and export prohibitions and restrictions of hazardous and other wastes, including lists of prohibited wastes, please click here.