Basel Convention Meetings

Sixteenth Conference of the Parties

Time: May 1 - 12 2023
Place: Geneva, Switzerland
Venue: Switzerland at the Geneva International Conference Centre (CICG)

Delegate Alerts

• Plastic Pollution: Focus Upstream at INC-2
• Beware Improper Article 11 Agreements Contradicting the Basel Convention

Side Events

• Misuse of Article 11 to escape the Basel Convention's Plastics Amendments | BRS COPs 2023 Side Event Recording
• Tackling the Hidden Basel Plastic Wastes | BRS COPs 2023 Side Event Recording

PowerPoint Presentations

• Misuse of Article 11 to escape the Basel Convention's Plastics Amendments PowerPoint Presentation
• Tackling the Hidden Basel Plastic Wastes PowerPoint Presentation

Interventions

• Intervention on Technical Guidelines on Electronic Waste
• BAN Intervention on the Review of the Annexes
• BAN Intervention on Plastic Waste Guidelines
• BAN Intervention on Improper Article 11 Agreements
• BAN Intervention on Hidden and Forgotten Plastic Wastes
• BAN Intervention on e-PIC

Documents

• Misuse of the Basel Convention's Article 11 to Avoid Compliance with the New Plastic Waste Controls

Fifteenth Conference of the Parties

Time: July 26 - 30 2021 (online segment), and June 6 - 17th, 2022 (face-to-face segment)
Place: Online and Geneva, Switzerland
Venue: Online and in Geneva, Switzerland at the Geneva International Conference Centre (CICG)

Delegate Alerts

• Establishing "Safe Levels" for Hazardous Wastes Must be Rejected
• Se deben de rechazar los “niveles seguros” de desechos peligrosos
• Brazil Must Urgently Provide Safe Haven for Aircraft Carrier São Paulo
• Brasil debe proporcionar urgentemente un refugio seguro para el portaviones São Paulo
• Le Brésil doit fournir d’urgence un refuge au porte avions São Paulo
• Let's Make the Basel Plastic Guidelines Environmentally Sound
• Let's Fix the Basel e-Waste Guidelines Once and for All
• The Swiss-Ghana Amendment: A Step Towards Closing the Last e-Waste Dumping Pathways
• Plastic Waste Trade Still Out of Control
• La comercialización de los desechos plásticos sigue estando fuera de control
• Hagamos que las Directrices del Convenio de Basilea Sobre los Plásticos Sean Ambientalmente Racionales
• Faisons en Sorte que les Directives de Bâle sur le Plastique Soient Écologiquement Rationnelles

Press Releases

• Delegates and Environmentalists Celebrate New Global Restrictions on e-Waste Trade
• Environmental Groups Claim that New Rules Restricting Plastic Trade are being Ignored

Presentations and Webinars

• E-Waste Exports: Closing the Remaining Loopholes | BAN | BRS COPs Side Event
  • PowerPoint Presentation Document
• The Basel Plastics Amendments: The First Year Report Card | BAN | BRS COPs Side Event
  • Video
  • PowerPoint Presentation Document
• Plastics & Refuse-Derived Fuel: Fuel Product or Plastic Waste Export? | IPEN | BRS COPS Side Event
  • Video
  • PowerPoint Presentation Document

Related Links

• The Basel Plastics Amendments: The First Year Report Card | BRS COPs Side Event
• Plastics & Refuse-Derived Fuel: Fuel Product or Plastic Waste Export? | Geneva Beat Plastic Pollution Dialogues Event

Fourteenth Conference of the Parties

Time: April 29 - May 10, 2019
Place: Geneva, Switzerland
Venue: Geneva International Conference Centre (CICG), 17 rue de Varembé,

Documents

• The Norwegian Amendments / Summary of Implications for Recyclers

Links

• The Responsible Guideline

Information/Fact Sheets

• BAN and IPEN Views of Basel COP14
• Norwegian Proposal to Amend the Annexes to the Basel Convention

Interventions

• BAN Intervention on the Technical Guideline on Electronic Waste
• BAN Intervention Regarding Basel Compliance

Action Alerts

Action Alert #1 / Acción de alerta #1 / Alerte d'action No. 1

• Just Two More Ratifications Needed to Ensure a COP14 Ban Amendment Celebration
• Sólo Dos Ratificaciones Más Para Asegurar La Celebración De La Enmienda BAN COP14 (Español)
• Plus que deux Ratifications manquent pour garantir l'entrée en vigueur du « Ban Amendment » à la COP14(Français)

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Action Alert #2 / Acción de alerta #2 / Alerte d'action No. 2

• The Circular Economy Threatened by Basel e-Waste Guidance
• Economía Circular Amenazada Por La Guía De Basilea Sobre e-Waste (Español)
• L'économie Circulaire Menacée par les Directives Techniques sur le Mouvement Transfrontalier des Déchets Electroniques de la Convention de Bâle (Français)

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Action Alert #3 / Acción de alerta #3 / Alerte d'action No. 3

• Preventing the Plastic Waste Tsunami: Adopting the Norwegian Proposal at COP14
• Prevención del Tsunami de Desechos de Material Plástico: Adopción del Protocolo Noruego en COP14 (Español)
• Prévenir le Tsunami de Déchets Plastiques: Adopter la Proposition Norvégienne à la COP14 (Français)

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Action Alert #4

• New research exposes a crisis in the global trade of "recyclable" plastics

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Action Alert #5

• Highest Level of World's Most Toxic Chemicals Found in African Free-Range Eggs: European E-Waste Dumping a Contributor

Thirteenth Conference of the Parties

Time: April 24 - May 5, 2017
Place: Geneva, Switzerland
Venue: Geneva International Conference Centre (CICG), 17 rue de Varembé,

Interventions

• BAN Intervention on TBM Guideline
• BAN Intervention on Ship Dismantling
• BAN Intervention on the Entry into Force of the Ban Amendment

Delegate Alerts

• Delegate Alert: BAN and IPEN Quick Views of Basel COP13 20 Apr 2017
• Delegate Alert #1: Time to Repair the "Repairables Loophole" in the e-Waste Guideline 21 Apr 2017

Updated BAN Briefing Papers (May 2017)

• Briefing Paper #1: The Basel Ban: A Triumph for Global Environmental Justice
• Briefing Paper #2: Why the US Must Ratify the Basel Convention together with the Ban Amendment (or not at all)
• Briefing Paper #3: Annex VII Expansion? – Say ‘No’ to Attempts to Undo the Basel Ban
• Briefing Paper #4: The Basel Ban Amendment: Just Say Now!
• Briefing Paper #5: European Union Illegally Scuttles Basel Convention for End-of-Life Ships
• Briefing Paper #6: Package Deal: Four Treaties to Fight Pollution
• Briefing Paper #7: Hazardous Waste Recycling: No Justification for Toxic Trade
• Briefing Paper #8: Running From Basel: How the Convention is Deliberately Undermined
• Briefing Paper #9: Building Toxic Waste Colonies: Japan’s Economic Partnership Agreements
• Briefing Paper #10: Preventing the Digital Dump: Ending “Re-use Abuse”

Statements

• Statement by BAN on the proposal to allow the recycling of DecaBDE (002)
• BAN Intervention on Compliance and Canadian Household Waste Dumping (002)

Twelfth Conference of the Parties

Time: May 4-15, 2015
Place: Geneva, Switzerland
Venue: Geneva International Conference Centre (CICG), 17 rue de Varembé,

Updated BAN Briefing Papers (May 2015)

• Briefing Paper #1: The Basel Ban: A Triumph for Global Environmental Justice [A4 Format] [PDF Download]
• Briefing Paper #2: Why the US Must Ratify the Basel Convention together with the Ban Amendment (or not at all) [PDF Download] [A4 Format]
• Briefing Paper #3: Annex VII Expansion? – Say ‘No’ to Attempts to Undo the Basel Ban [PDF Download] [A4 Format]
• Briefing Paper #4: The Basel Ban Amendment: Just Say Now! [PDF Download] [A4 Format]
• Briefing Paper #5: European Union Illegally Scuttles Basel Convention for End-of-Life Ships [PDF Download] [A4 Format]
• Briefing Paper #6: Package Deal: Four Treaties to Fight Pollution [PDF Download] [A4 Format]
• Briefing Paper #7: Hazardous Waste Recycling: No Justification for Toxic Trade [PDF Download] [A4 Format]
• Briefing Paper #8: Running From Basel: How the Convention is Deliberately Undermined [PDF Download] [A4 Format]
• Briefing Paper #9: Building Toxic Waste Colonies: Japan’s Economic Partnership Agreements [PDF Download] [A4 Format]
• Briefing Paper #10: Preventing the Digital Dump: Ending “Re-use Abuse” [PDF Download] [A4 Format]

Basel Interventions

• BAN Intervention on the e-Waste Guideline and Repair Loophole

– May 9 2015

• CIEL/IPEN Canada waste dump intervention

– May 9 2015

• BAN Intervention on the Basel Ban Amendment

– May 9 2015

• BAN/BAN Toxics Compliance Intervention: Illegal Waste Shipment from Canada

– May 9 2015

Delegate Alerts

• Delegate Alert #1: Preventing More Dumping of Electronic Waste in Developing Countries [PDF Download] [A4 Format] – 07 Apr. 2015
• Delegate Alert #2: Canada in Breach of its Basel Obligations] [PDF Download] [A4 Format] – 10 Apr. 2015
• Delegate Alert #3: Fulfilling the Promise of the Basel Convention – Ratifying the Ban Amendment [PDF Download] [A4 Format] – 15 Apr. 2015
• Delegate Alert #4: BAN presents major new e-Waste film on 5 May, Tuesday night, Room 13 [PDF Download] [A4 Format] – 28 Apr. 2015

Delegate Alerts – Spanish

• Delegate Alert #1: Como evitar que aumente el vertido de desechos electrónicos en los países en desarrollo [PDF Download] - 07 Apr. 2015
• Delegate Alert #3: Cumpliendo la promesa del Convenio de Basilea – Ratificación de la Enmienda de Prohibición – 10 Apr. 2015 Broken link

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Eleventh Conference of the Parties

Time: May 3-6, 2013
Place: Geneva, Switzerland
Venue: Congress Convention Center Updated

BAN Briefing Papers (April 2013):

• Briefing Paper #1: The Basel Ban: A Triumph for Global Environmental Justice [PDF Download] [A4 Format]
• Briefing Paper #2: Why the US Must Ratify the Basel Convention together with the Ban Amendment (or not at all) [PDF Download] [A4 Format]
• Briefing Paper #3: Annex VII Expansion? – Say ‘No’ to Attempts to Undo Basel Ban [PDF Download] [A4 Format]
• Briefing Paper #4: Basel Ban Amendment: Just Say Now! [PDF Download] [A4 Format]
• Briefing Paper #5: European Commission Illegally Tries to Sink Basel Convention for End-of- Life Ships [PDF Download] [A4 Format]
• Briefing Paper #6: Package Deal: Four Treaties to Fight Pollution [PDF Download] [A4 Format]
• Briefing Paper #7: Hazardous Waste Recycling: No Justification for Toxic Trade [PDF Download]] [A4 Format]
• Briefing Paper #8: Running From Basel: How the Convention is Deliberately Undermined [PDF Download] [A4 Format]
• Briefing Paper #9: Building Toxic Waste Colonies: Japan’s Economic Partnership Agreements [PDF Download] [A4 Format]
• Briefing Paper #10: Preventing the Digital Dump: Ending “Re-use Abuse” [PDF Download] [A4 Format]

Delegate Alerts

• Delegate Alert #1: Entry Into Force: Announce your Intent to Ratify Ban Amendment at COP11! [PDF Download] [A4 Format] – 26 Apr. 2013
• Delegate Alert #2: Illegal: European Commission Cannot Unilaterally Remove Ships [PDF Download] [A4 Format] - 26 Apr. 2013
• Delegate Alert #3: Preventing the Digital Dump: Ending Re-use Abuse [PDF Download] [A4 Format] - 26 Apr. 2013
• Delegate Alert Extra: Delegates Must Not Allow Basel Exemptions For E-waste [PDF Download] [A4 Format] - 26 Apr. 2013

Shipbreaking Documents

• LEGALITY OF THE EU COMMISSION PROPOSAL ON SHIP RECYCLING [PDF Download] – 12 Dec. 2012
• COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION [PDF Download] – 28 Nov. 2013
• A legal analysis by Dr. Ludwig Krämer [PDF Download] – 4 Sept. 2012
• A principled and practical solution for ship recycling [PDF Download] – 21 Jan. 2013

Speeches

• e-Waste Exemption Intervention [PDF Download] - 3 May 2013
• Ships Intervention [PDF Download] - 3 May 2013

Some Adopted Decisions

• PACE Decision [PDF Download] - 9 May 2013
• PACE Guidance on Recycling of Computing Equipment [PDF Download] - 9 May 2013

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Tenth Conference of the Parties

Time: October 17-21, 2011
Place: Cartagena de India, Colombia
Venue: Cartagena de Indias Convention Centre (CCCI)

Updated BAN Briefing Papers (October 2011):

• Briefing Paper #1: The Basel Ban: A Triumph for Global Environmental Justice [A4 Format]
• Briefing Paper #2: Why the US Must Ratify the Basel Convention together with the Ban Amendment (or not at all) [A4 Format]
• Briefing Paper #3: Annex VII Expansion? – Say ‘No’ to Attempts to Undo the Basel Ban [A4 Format]
• Briefing Paper #4: The Basel Ban Amendment: Just Say Now! [A4 Format]
• Briefing Paper #5: Hong Kong Convention Legalizes Toxic Ship Dumping [A4 Format]
• Briefing Paper #6: Package Deal: Four Treaties to Fight Pollution [A4 Format]
• Briefing Paper #7: Hazardous Waste Recycling: No Justification for Toxic Trade [A4 Format]
• Briefing Paper #8: Running From Basel: How the Convention is Deliberately Undermined [A4 Format]
• Briefing Paper #9: Building Toxic Waste Colonies: Japan’s Economic Partnership Agreements [A4 Format]
• Briefing Paper #10: Preventing the Digital Dump: Ending “Re-use Abuse” [A4 Format]

BAN Newspaper

• BAN COP10 Newspaper | the four articles below with photos - 12 Oct. 2011

Press Release

• 178 Countries Agree to Allow the Ban on Exports of Toxic Wastes to Developing Countries to Become Law – 21 Oct. 2011

Interventions

• Final Statement / BAN on behalf of the NGOs at COP10 – 21 Oct. 2011
• European Union e-Waste Duplicity - 21 Oct. 2011
• Statement on Basel and Hong Kong Convetions / Shipbreaking - 18 Oct. 2011
• BAN Interventions CLI and Ban Amendment - 17 Oct. 2011

Delegate Alerts

• Less than Equivalent - 11 Oct. 2011
• Finally! Waste Prevention Comes to Basel - 09 Oct. 2011
• When a Non-Paper is the Wrong Resource Recovery – Yes, Exploiting Weaker Economies – No - 26 Sept. 2011
• YES to the Country Led Initiative - 26 Sept. 2011

BAN Submissions

• Shipbreaking: Equivalent Level of Control - 4 July 2011
• BAN Comments on e-Waste TBM paper - 10 May 2011
• BAN Comments on CLI - 24 January 2011

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Ninth Conference of the Parties

Time: June 23-27, 2008
Place: Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia
Venue: Bali International Convention Centre (BICC)

BAN Press Releases:

• United Nations Waste Treaty Postpones Long Awaited Toxic Waste Dumping Ban- 27 June 2008
• Domestic Press Release:EPA’s Electronic Waste Recycling Standard Denounced for Allowing Global Toxic Dumping- 23 June 2008
• International Press Release: U.S. Government OK’s Illegal Trafficking in Hazardous Electronic Waste- 23 June 2008

Updated BAN Briefing Papers (June 2008):

• Briefing Paper #1: The Basel Ban: A Triumph for Global Environmental Justice
• Briefing Paper #2: The US Must Ratify the Entire Basel Convention (or not at all)
• Briefing Paper #3: Annex VII Expansion? – Say ‘No’ to Attempts to Undo the Basel Ban
• Briefing Paper #4: The Basel Ban Amendment: Entry Into Force = Now!
• Briefing Paper #5: UN Failure: IMO Ship Scrap Treaty Legalizes Toxic Ship Dumping
• Briefing Paper #6: Package Deal: Four Treaties to Fight Pollution
• Briefing Paper #7: Hazardous Waste Recycling: No Justification for Toxic Trade
• Briefing Paper #8: Running From Basel: How the Convention is Deliberately Undermined
• Briefing Paper #9: The 3R Initiative: A Mask for Toxic Trade?
• Briefing Paper #10: Preventing the Digital Dump: Ending “Re-use Abuse”
• Briefing Paper #11: Building Toxic Waste Colonies: Japan’s Economic Partnership Agreement

BAN Paper Distributed:

• Basel Convention Ban Amendment – Entry into Force Country Analysis (June 2008)

BAN Speeches:

• Speech of Mr. Jim Puckett (Basel Action Network) – World Forum on Waste Management for Human Health and Livelihood – 26 June 2008
• Basel Action Network Intervention on e-Waste – 24 June 2008
• Basel Action Network Intervention Regarding Entry into Force of the BAN Amendment – 24 June 2008

Additional Papers Distributed:

• Summary of NGO Comments on the Kobe 3R Action Plan of the G8 – 26 June 2008
• The NGO Platform’s Green Ship Recycling Standard – Draft 2 – 23 June 2008

Notable Press Coverage:

• Toxic waste export harder to control, despite Basel Convention – 1 July 2008
• Fail to agree on banning toxic waste exports at UN conference – 26 June 2008
• Officials: Poor nations can’t manage toxic waste – 26 June 2008
• UN says poverty is fueling trade of hazardous waste exports to poor countries – 26 June 2008

For official reports and conference papers visit the Basel Secretariat Website

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Eighth Conference of the Parties

Time: 28 November – 1 December 2006
Place: Nairobi, Kenya

BAN Report on COP8:

• Basel Action Network Report and Press Statements on the Results of the Eighth Conference of the Parties of the Basel Convention - 2 December 2006, Nairobi

BAN Statement at the Global E-Waste Forum - 1 December 2006, Nairobi

Basel E-waste Decision:

• Decision VIII/[ ]: Draft Decision on Environmentally Sound Management of Electronic and Electrical Waste: Submitted by the contact group on draft decisions on environmentally sound management of electronic and electrical waste - 1 December 2006, Nairobi

Nairobi Declaration on E-waste:

• Nairobi Ministerial Declaration on the Environmentally Sound Management of Electronic and Electrical Waste: Submitted by the President of the eighth meeting of the Conference of the Parties - 1 December 2006, Nairobi

BAN Papers Distributed:

• COP8 Newspaper A4 Version (Print this document on single sided paper and put in correct page order)
• COP8 Newspaper Letter Version (Print this document on single sided paper and put in correct page order)
• Urgent Considerations for Correcting Deficiencies in the Draft Convention on the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships – NGO Platform on Shipbreaking, 8 October 2006
• A Call for an Interpretation of Article 17 by the Parties for Rapid Entry into Force of the Basel Ban Amendment – Basel Action Network, April 2006
• Critique of Draft I.M.O. “International Convention for Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships” – by the Basel Action Network on behalf of the Global NGO Platform on Shipbreaking, 15 March 2006

Updated BAN Briefing Papers (November 2006):

• Briefing Paper #1: The Basel Ban: A Triumph for Global Environmental Justice
• Briefing Paper #2: The US Must Ratify the Entire Basel Convention (or not at all)
• Briefing Paper #3: Annex VII Expansion? – Say ‘No’ to Attempts to Undo the Basel Ban
• Briefing Paper #4: The Basel Ban Amendment: Entry Into Force = Now!
• Briefing Paper #6: Package Deal: Four Treaties to Fight Pollution
• Briefing Paper #8: Running From Basel: How the Convention is Deliberately Undermined
• Briefing Paper #10: Preventing the Digital Dump: Ending “Re-use Abuse”

BAN Submissions:

• Annotations and Commentary on Japanese Paper Regarding the Draft IMO International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships in the Context of Decision VII/26- Provided to the Eighth Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention Nairobi, 25 November – December 1

Notable Press Coverage:

• Exported e-waste pollutes Africa – 18 December 2006, St. Louis Post-Dispatch

For official reports and conference papers visit the Basel Secretariat Website

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Seventh Conference of the Parties

Time: 25-29 October 2004
Place: Geneva, Switzerland
Venue: Palais des Nations

BAN Representatives to COP7:
Mr. Jim Puckett, Coordinator of BAN Secretariat

BAN Papers Distributed:

• COP7 Advance Briefing
• COP7 Advance Briefing Supplement 1
• COP7 Advance Briefing Supplement 2
• Entry Into Force of the Basel Ban Amendment – October 2004
• BAN Comments and Proposals for Resolving Basel Convention Shipbreaking Issues – 6 January 2004
• The IMO Guidlines on Ship Recycling Annotated — A Critique – Basel Action Network/Greenpeace, 21 November 2003
• Wireless Waste: Basel Convention’s Next Hazardous Waste Challenge - Basel Action Network, October 2004

Updated BAN Briefing Papers (October 2004):

• Briefing Paper #1: The Basel Ban — A Triumph of Global Environmental Justice
• Briefing Paper #2: Why the US Must Ratify the Entire Basel Convention (or not at all)
• Briefing Paper #3: Annex VII Expansion? — An Ignoble Attempt to Undo the Basel Ban
• Briefing Paper #4: Ratifying the Ban Amendment: In the Final Stretch
• Briefing Paper #5: The Shame of Shipping: Breaking with Principle to Break Ships
• Briefing Paper #6: Package Deal to Fight Pollution: Ratifying the 4 Toxics Treaties
• Briefing Paper #7: Hazardous Waste Recycling: No Justification for Toxic Trade
• Briefing Paper #8: Running from Basel: Post Treaty Revisionism

For official reports and conference papers visit the Basel Secretariat Website

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Sixth Conference of the Parties

Time: 9-13 December 2002
Place: Geneva, Switzerland
Venue:Palais des Nations

BAN Representatives to COP6:

Mr. Jim Puckett, Coordinator of BAN Secretariat
Mr. Ravi Agarwal, BAN member organization Srishti, New Delhi
Mr. Richard Gutierrez, BAN Policy Advisor

BAN representatives with Madame Veseley, special rapporteur
on for the United Nations Commission on Human Rights pertaining
to the dumping of toxic waste. Geneva, 12 December 2002.

© Basel Action Network

BAN REPORT on COP6 – 3 February 2003

BAN Papers Distributed:

• Focus on COPVI
• Press Release: Activists Blast USA for Resuming Export of Naval Ships to Asia
• Action Alert: Stop USA from Dumping Old Naval Vessels on Asia
• Exporting Harm: The High Tech Trashing of Asia
• Exporting Harm: Canadian Story
• BAN Briefing Papers:
  • Briefing Paper #1: The Basel Ban — A Triumph of Global Environmental Justice – May 2002
  • Briefing Paper #2: Why the US Must Ratify the Entire Basel Convention (or not at all) – March 2002
  • Briefing Paper #3: Annex VII Expansion? — An Ignoble Attempt to Undo the Basel Ban – June 2001
  • Briefing Paper #4: Celebrating Basel’s First Decade — Ratifying the Ban Amendment – May 2002
  • Briefing Paper #5: The Next POPs Challenge: Appropriate POPs Destruction – May 2001
  • Briefing Paper #6: Package Deal to Fight Pollution: Ratifying the 4 Toxics Treaties – May 2002
  • Briefing Paper #7: Hazardous Waste Recycling: No Justification for Toxic Trade – March 2002
• Mercury Migration Series: Briefing Papers of the Ban Mercury Working
• Ending Mercury Use in Artisanal Gold Mining – August 2002
• Byproduct Mercury: A Forgotten Source of a Global Poison – August 2002
• The Fish that Feed Us Are Killing Us – August 20

For official reports and conference papers visit the Basel Secretariat Website

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Fifth Conference of the Parties

Time: 6-10 December 1999
Place: Basel, Switzerland
Venue: Convention Center

BAN Representatives to COP5:

Mr. Jim Puckett, Coordinator of BAN Secretariat
Mr. Ravi Agarwal, of BAN member organization Srishti, New Delhi
Mr. Roger Kluck, legal advisor
Ms. Carmen G. Gonzalez, legal advisor

BAN Report:

BAN Report and Analysis of COP5

BAN/Greenpeace Press Release:

Toxic Waste Treaty Declares Next Decade: No Time for Waste

BAN Papers Distributed:

• When Trade is Toxic: The WTO Threat to Public and Planetary Health
• Briefing Paper 4: Celebrating Basel’s 10th Year — Ratifying the Ban Amendment – December 1999 -[Acrobat PDF Version]
• Briefing Paper 3: Annex VII Expansion? — An Ignoble Attempt to Undo the Basel Ban – Updated December 1999 - [Acrobat PDF Version]
• Briefing Paper 2: Why the US Must Ratify the Entire Basel Convention (or not at all) – April 1999 - [Acrobat PDF Version]
• Briefing Paper 1: The Basel Ban — A Triumph of Global Environmental Justice – Updated December 1999 - [Acrobat PDF Version]
• Environmentally Sound Management and the Basel Ban Amendment

Notable Speeches:

• Klaus Toepfer, Executive Secretary of United Nations Environment Programme
  

Audio Version (Thanks to IISD)

• Dr. Mostafa K. Tolba, former Executive Director of United Nations Environment Programme

Audio Version (Thanks to IISD)

Final Texts:

• Next Decade Declaration and Decision xx
• Liability Protocol xx

For official reports and conference papers visit the Basel Secretariat Website

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Fourth Conference of the Parties

See Issues for COP4 for links
Time: 23-27 February 1998
Place: Kuching, Malaysia
Venue:Riverside Majestic Hotel
BASEL BAN VICTORY AT COP4!
Final Decision on Annex VII
COP4 Country Performance Reviews
Provisional Agenda
BAN Annotated Agenda
Greenpeace Briefs for COP-4 (links to Greenpeace International’s website)
COP-4: the Key Issues at a Glance
How to Identify the Attempts to Undermine the Ban — A Quick Guide xx
Annex VII Amendment Proposals
Background on Annex VII
UNEP/CHW.4/8-Amendment of the Basel Convention — Proposal of Monaco
UNEP/CHW.4/9-Amendment of the Basel Convention — Proposal of Israel
ACP-EU Joint Assembly Resolution
EU Commission Legal Opinion on Article 11
Hazardous Waste Definitions
Background on Basel Hazardous Waste Definitions
UNEP/CHW.4/2 — Draft Position Paper on Hazard Characterization and Classification of Wastes within the Framework of the Basel Convention
UNEP/CHW.4/3 — Consolidated Lists of Wastes and the Applicable Procedure for Their Review or Adjustment
UNEP/CHW.4/4 — Wastes Placed on List C Awaiting Classification
Proposed Amendment: European Community
Proposed Amendment: Chile
Slovenia Letter Proposing their Entry into Annex VII

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Subsidiary Meetings

Fourteenth meeting of the Open-ended Working Group (OEWG 14), June 25 - June 28 2024, Geneva, Switzerland

Interventions:

• BAN Interventiuon on the e-Waste Amendments
• BAN Intervention on e-Waste Technical Guidelines
• BAN Plastic Waste Amendments Intervention

Delegate Alerts:

• Once Again Basel Must Stand Firm Against Efforts to Remove Basel Competency over Waste Ships

Press Releases:

• Plastic recycling plants receiving exported waste are microplastic factories, experts say

Events:

• Plastic Waste Trade: A New Colonialist means of Pollution Transfer | Basel OEWG-14 Side Event
• Shipbreaking: Revisiting a Waste Dumping Crisis | Basel OEWG-14 Side Event
• The Plastic Amendments: Are we fulfilling the Promise? | Basel OEWG-14 Side Event

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Thirteenth meeting of the Open-ended Working Group (OEWG 13), February 21 - February 23 2023, Geneva, Switzerland

Interventions:

• RE: Two Failures following Adoption of the Basel Plastics Amendments
• Plastic Waste Guidelines
• RE: e-Waste Guideline
• RE: The Sinking of the São Paulo

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Meeting of ENFORCE Partnership #6, April 11 - April 13 2022, Virtual

Presentations:

• The Plastic Waste Amendments: A Compliance Report Card

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Twelfth meeting of the Open-ended Working Group (OEWG 12), April 4 - April 6 2022, Nairobi, Kenya

Presentations:

• OEWG 12 Side Event BAN Presentation

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Eleventh meeting of the Open-ended Working Group (OEWG 11), September 2 - September 6 2018, Geneva, Switzerland

Delegate Alerts:

• Delegate Alert #1: Circular Economy Threatened by Basel e-Waste Guidance Document
• Delegate Alert #2: Norwegian Listings: Needed Now to Prevent Plastic Waste Tsunami
• Delegate Alert #3: Goal: A COP14 Ban Amendment Celebration!
• Delegate Alert #4: Open Letter from 50 NGOs Around the World
  • Open Letter: Demand that World Governments Adopt Stricter Standards on Plastic Waste Trade (English)
  • Open Letter: Demand that World Governments Adopt Stricter Standards on Plastic Waste Trade (French)
  • Open Letter: Demand that World Governments Adopt Stricter Standards on Plastic Waste Trade (Spanish)
  • FACT SHEET on how the waste trade is impacting Southeast Asia
• Delegate Alert #5: Don't Let Weak EU Proposal for POPs Harm Our Children's Health
• Basel OEWG11 Meeting Final Alert

Briefing Papers:

• IPEN and BAN Key Issues Briefing Paper - OEWG11 English
• IPEN and BAN Key Issues Briefing Paper - OEWG11 Spanish
• IPEN and BAN Key Issues Briefing Paper - OEWG11 French

Interventions:

• BAN Intervention on the e-Waste Tech Guidelines
• File:BAN Intervention Norway Proposal.pdf

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Tenth meeting of the Open-ended Working Group (OEWG 10), May 30-June 2 2016, Nairobi, Kenya

Papers Distributed:

• BAN Intervention of BAN on e-Waste Guideline
• BC’s Interim Guideline on Transboundary Movement of e-Waste
• Directriz provisional del Convenio de Basilea sobre el movimiento transfronterizo de residuos electrónicos

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Ninth meeting of the Open-ended Working Group (OEWG 9), 16-19 September 2014, Geneva

Delegate Alerts:

• Alert #1:Beware Dangerous Exemptions Proposed to Basel Trade Rules for Electronic Waste
• Alert #2: ‘Legal Clarity’ Glossary of Terms Document Not Ready for Adoption

Briefing Papers:

• Briefing Paper #1: The Basel Ban: A Triumph for Global Environmental Justice - 7 Sept. 2014
• Briefing Paper #2: Why the US Must Ratify the Basel Convention together with the Ban Amendment (or not at all) - 7 Sept. 2014
• Briefing Paper #3: Annex VII Expansion? – Say ‘No’ to Attempts to Undo the Basel Ban - 7 Sept. 2014
• Briefing Paper #4: The Basel Ban Amendment: Just Say Now! - 7 Sept. 2014
• Briefing Paper #5: European Union Illegally Scuttles Basel Convention for End-of-Life Ships - 7 Sept. 2014
• Briefing Paper #6: Package Deal: Four Treaties to Fight Pollution - 7 Sept. 2014
• Briefing Paper #7: Hazardous Waste Recycling: No Justification for Toxic Trade - 7 Sept. 2014
• Briefing Paper #8: Running From Basel: How the Convention is Deliberately Undermined – 7 Sept. 2014
• Briefing Paper #9: Building Toxic Waste Colonies: Japan’s Economic Partnership Agreements - 7 Sept. 2014
• Briefing Paper #10: Preventing the Digital Dump: Ending “Re-use Abuse” – 7 Sept. 2014

Papers Distributed:

• BAN Intervention of BAN on e-Waste Guideline
• BAN Intervention of BAN on Legal Clarity
• BAN Intervention / ESM of Ship Dismantling
• Intervention of BAN on e-Waste Guideline Final Plenary

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Eighth meeting of the Open-ended Working Group (OEWG 8), 25 – 28 September 2012, Geneva

Delegate Alerts:

• Alert #1: Disturbing Manipulation ofthe COP10 ShipbreakingDecision - 17 Sept. 2012
• Alert #2: Preventing the Digital Dump: Ending Re-use Abuse - 19 Sept. 2012
• Alert #3: Basel Convention’s Flawed Legal Analysis Could Help Companies Like Trafigura Avoid Prosecution - 22 Sept. 2012
• Alert #4: European Commission Turns its Back on Basel Convention - 24 Sept. 2012

Papers Distributed:

• BAN Intervention on Legal Analysis - 27 Sept. 2012
• STATEMENT by BAN on the Technical Guidelines on the TBM of e-Waste - 27 Sept. 2012
• Intervention on Ship Dismantling - 27 Sept. 2012

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Seventh Meeting of the Open-ended Working Group (OEWG 6), Geneva, Switzerland, 10 – 14 May 2010

BAN Interventions:

• BAN’s Concerns over Country Led Initiative
• BAN on the Basel Ban and Article 17.5
• BAN on the IMO Convention not being Equivalent to the Basel Convention

Papers Distributed:

• Comments on the 5th Draft Technical Guidelines on the Environmentally Sound Management of Mercury Wastes (Jan 2010, UNEP/CHW/OEWG/7/INF/10) — Zero Mercury Working Group – 30 April 2010
• BAN Comments on Three Swiss-Indonesian Country Led Initiative (CLI) Documents – 7 May 2010
• BAN Annotated Comments on Three Swiss-Indonesian CLI Documents (Part 2) – 7 May 2010
• Side Event Presentation on BAN e-Stewards Certification – May 2010
• Determining “Equivalent Level of Control” as Established under the Basel Convention, NGO Shipbreaking Platform – January 2010

Updated BAN Briefing Papers (May 2010):

• Briefing Paper #1: The Basel Ban: A Triumph for Global Environmental Justice
• Briefing Paper #2: The US Must Ratify the Entire Basel Convention (or not at all)
• Briefing Paper #3: Annex VII Expansion? – Say ‘No’ to Attempts to Undo the Basel Ban
• Briefing Paper #4: The Basel Ban Amendment: Entry Into Force = Now!
• Briefing Paper #5: UN Failure: IMO Ship Scrap Treaty Legalizes Toxic Ship Dumping
• Briefing Paper #6: Package Deal: Four Treaties to Fight Pollution
• Briefing Paper #7: Hazardous Waste Recycling: No Justification for Toxic Trade
• Briefing Paper #8: Running From Basel: How the Convention is Deliberately Undermined
• Briefing Paper #9: The 3R Initiative: A Mask for Toxic Trade?
• Briefing Paper #10: Preventing the Digital Dump: Ending “Re-use Abuse”
• Briefing Paper #11: Building Toxic Waste Colonies: Japan’s “JEPAs”

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Sixth Meeting of the Open-ended Working Group (OEWG 6), Geneva, 3 – 7 September 2007

Papers Distributed:

• New Briefing Paper #11: Building Toxic Waste Colonies: Japan’s “JEPAs” – September 2007
• BAN Report: JPEPA as a Step in Japan’s Greater Plan to Liberalize Hazardous Waste Trade in Asia- Basel Action Network, 29 August 2007
• BAN Submission: Annotations and Commentary on Japanese Paper Regarding the Draft IMO International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships in the Context of Decision VII/26 – Provided to the Eighth Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention Nairobi, 25 November – December 1

BAN Briefing Papers (September 2007):

• Briefing Paper #1: The Basel Ban: A Triumph for Global Environmental Justice
• Briefing Paper #2: The US Must Ratify the Entire Basel Convention (or not at all)
• Briefing Paper #3: Annex VII Expansion? – Say ‘No’ to Attempts to Undo the Basel Ban
• Briefing Paper #4: The Basel Ban Amendment: Entry Into Force = Now!
• Briefing Paper #6: Package Deal: Four Treaties to Fight Pollution
• Briefing Paper #7: Hazardous Waste Recycling: No Justification for Toxic Trade
• Briefing Paper #8: Running From Basel: How the Convention is Deliberately Undermined
• Briefing Paper #9: The 3R Initiative: A Mask for Toxic Trade?
• Briefing Paper #10: Preventing the Digital Dump: Ending “Re-use Abuse”
• Briefing Paper #11: Building Toxic Waste Colonies: Japan’s “JEPAs”

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Fifth Meeting of the Open-ended Working Group (OEWG 5), Geneva, 3 – 7 April 2006

• A Call for an Interpretation of Article 17 by the Parties for Rapid Entry into Force of the Basel Ban Amendment – April 2006
• Critique of Draft I.M.O. “International Convention for Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships” – March 2006
• Press Release on Draft IMO Convention Critique – March 2006
• Briefing Paper #9: The 3R Initiative: A Mask for Toxic Trade? – April 2006
• Briefing Paper #10: Preventing the Digital Dump: Ending “Re-use Abuse” – April 2006

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Fourth Meeting of the Open-ended Working Group (OEWG 4), Geneva, 4 – 8 July 2005

• BAN Opening Statement on Shipbreaking – 4 July 2005
• Greenpeace/BAN Final Statement on Ships and Illegal Traffic – Greenpeace/BAN, 8 July 2005
• Obligations and Opportunities for a Mandatory Alternate or Additional Instrument to the Basel Convention for End-of-Life Ships – Greenpeace/BAN, 26 May 2005
• BAN Comments on Secretariat Paper on the Environmentally Sound Management of Ships (UNEP/CHW/OEWG/4/6) – 22 June 2005
• Legal Analysis of Letter from Mr. Raja to Ms. Hedegaard regarding the legal application of the Basel Convention to the Kong Frederik IX (aka Riky)- 3 May 2005
  • Including: First Letter to Mr. Raja - Second Letter to Mr. Raja
• Briefing Paper #9: The 3R Initiative: A Mask for Toxic Trade? – April 2005
• Basel Non-Compliance Notification Report – April 2005
• Basel Action Network Report on the First Joint ILO/IMO/Basel Convention Working Group – Released June 27, 2005
• Inconsistent: The Problem with the Basel Guidelines on POPs Waste – Released April 2005, International POPs Elimination Network (IPEN)

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Third Meeting of the Open-ended Working Group (OEWG 3), Geneva, 26 – 30 April 2004

• Mobile Toxic Waste: Recent Findings on the Toxicity of End-of-Life mobile phones – 26 April 2004
• Comments on the Analysis of Issues Related to Annex VII (Phase II) – 6 February 2004
• BAN Comments and Proposals for Resolving Basel Convention Shipbreaking Issues, and the Analysis of Issues Related to Annex VII (Phase II) – 6 January 2004

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Second Meeting of the Open-ended Working Group (OEWG 2), Geneva, 20 – 24 October 2003

First Meeting of the Committee for Implementation and Compliance. International Environment House, Geneva, 19 October 2003.

4th Session of the Legal Working Group, 18-19 January 2002, GenevaFirst Session of the Open-ended Working Group (OEWG 1), Geneva, 28 April – 2 May 2003.

1st Joint Meeting of the Technical Working Group and Legal Working Group, 16-17 January 2002, Geneva

• Shipbreaking and the Legal Obligations Under the Basel Convention – 10 January 2002

19th Session of the Technical Working Group, 14-15 January 2002, Geneva

• BAN Comments on Shipbreaking Guidelines – 10 January 2002
• Hazardous Characteristic H13 – Its Meaning and Importance to the Basel Convention – 23 June 2000(This paper reincluded here as the Secretariat failed to review this paper in preparing their own document on H13)

Richard Gutierrez, Toxics Policy Advisor attending
the 4th Legal Working Group of the Basel Convention,
January 2002. © Basel Action Network

18th Session of the Technical Working Group, 18-20 June, Geneva 3rd Session of Legal Working Group, 21-22 June, Geneva

• BAN Report on TWG18 and LWG3 of the Basel Convention – 18-22 June 2001
• BAN Comments on Report by the ERM on Part II of the Study on Implementation of Decision IV/8 – June 2001
• BAN Comments on Document B on Part II of the Study on Implementation of Decision IV/8 – June 2001
• BAN/Greenpeace, Primary Concerns for TWG18 – 19 June 2001

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First Continental Conference for Africa on the Environmentally Sound Management of Unwanted Stockpiles of Hazardous Wastes and their Prevention, Rabat, Morocco, 8-12 January 2001

• BAN Meeting Report
• Towards a Policy on Chemical Waste Stockpile Destruction and Transport in Africa: Ensuring Environmentally Sound Management of Existing Chemical Wastes and Stockpiles through the Stockholm, Basel and Bamako Conventions – BAN, 8-12 January 2001
• Vers une politique en matière de destruction et de transport des stocks de déchets chimiques en Afrique: Assurer une gestion écologiquement rationnelle des déchets et stocks chimiques existants, par le biais des Conventions de Stockholm, de Bâle et de Bamako – BAN, 8-12 January 2001

2nd Session of Legal Working Group, 12-13 October, Geneva

• BAN Comments on the Draft Guidance Elements for Bilateral, Multilateral and Regional Agreements or Arrangements – October 2000

17th Technical Working Group, 9-11 October, Geneva

• BAN Report on the 17th Technical Working Group and 2nd Legal Working Group – October, 2000
• Comments on the Draft Document on the Relationship Between the Basel Convention and the Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) – BAN, October 2000 - [HTML File]
• Hazardous Characteristic H13 – Its Meaning and Importance to the Basel Convention – 23 June 2000
• The Basel Ban: The First Step Toward Environmentally Sound Management of Hazardous Wastes – February 2000

16th Technical Working Group and 1st Session of Legal Working Group, 3-7 April 2000, Geneva

• Basel Convention Report on Technical Working Group – 5 April 2000
• Annex to TWG Report (Workplan of TWG) – 5 April 2000
• Provisional Attendees List of Legal Working Group – 7 April 2000
• BAN Comments on the Basel Convention Draft Technical Guideline on the Environmentally Sound Management of Biomedical and Healthcare Waste (Y1; Y2; Y3) – 10 May 2000

10th Session of the Open-Ended Ad Hoc Group of Legal and Technical Experts to Consider and Develop a Draft Protocol on Liability

• BAN Report / 10th Liability Protocol Drafting Meeting – 30 August – 3 September
• Saving the Basel Liability Protocol – 30 August 1999
• Position Paper on Article 23 - 1 September
• Position Paper on Opt-Out for Bilateral, Multilateral Agreements – 31 August

4th Session of the Open-Ended Ad Hoc Committee for the Implementation of the Basel Convention

• BAN Report on the 4th Basel Implemention Committee Meeting – 21-25 June 1999

9th Session of the Ad Hoc Group of Legal and Technical Experts to Consider and Develop a Draft Protocol on Liability, 19-23 April 1999, Geneva

• BAN Report on the 8th Session / Liability Protocol Drafting – 19-23 April
• Comments on the Draft Liability Protocol, by West Coast Environmental Law and the Basel Action Network – 19 April 1999

15th Technical Working Group and 2nd Joint meeting of the Technical Working Group and the Consultative Sub-Group of Legal and Technical Experts, 12-16 April 1999, Geneva

• BAN Report on the Basel Convention 15th Technical Working Group and 2nd Consultative Sub-Group of Legal and Technical Experts – 12-16 April
• Comments on Decision IV/8: Regarding Annex VII – 12 April 1999
• Shipbreaking and the Basel Convention — An Analysis – 12 April 1999
• Clinical Waste in Developing Countries – April 1999
• 11 Recommendations for Improving Medical Waste Waste Management – April 1999
• 11 Recomendaciones Para Mejorar el Manejo de los Residuos Patológicos – April 1999 (Spanish Version)
• 11 Recommandations Pour Améliorer La Gestion Des Déchets Bio-médicaux – April 1999 (French Version)

Ravi Agarwal of New Delhi organization Srishti representing
the Basel Action Network at the April 1999 Basel Technical
Working Group Meeting in Geneva.© Basel Action Network