Country Status
Summary Explanation of Table Listings:
General Note: Due to the constant change in status of various treaties, amendments and protocols, the Basel Action Network cannot ensure the absolute accuracy of all of these listings in this table. We therefore appreciate those that will call our attention to any errors or changes in status to assist us in updating the table as accurately and as timely as possible.
Basel Convention: ”The Basel Convention on the Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal” was adopted on 21 March 1989 and went into force on 5 May 1992. It establishes a framework of control over the transboundary movements of hazardous wastes.
If a country has joined the treaty through the deposit of ratification (r), accession (a), acceptance (A) or Approval (AA) they are considered Parties as of the indicated date of deposit. The total number of such Parties is listed. If a country has signed the treaty but has not yet ratified it, this is indicated by the word “signature”.
Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD): When the Parties to the Convention sought to make an economic distinction between developed and developing countries in Decision II/12, they chose the divider line established by the OECD — a group which currently has 34 members and and for the most part represent the more highly developed and industrialized countries. This group by far produces the most hazardous waste (estimated at 90%) and by far has the most resources to ensure that it is dealt with responsibly at home. Thus the Basel Ban Decision and Amendment were meant to apply only to these countries. In 1995, the Parties created Annex VII and included the EU countries as well as Liechtenstein (an EFTA member country).
European Union: The Basel Convention allows political or economic integration organizations to join the Convention as Parties to it. The European Commission of the European Economic Community, now known as the European Union, has ratified the Convention as have most of their member states. When it comes time to vote in the Convention, ordinarily the European Commission has the competence to vote the 27 votes of the member states plus one vote for the Commission as a bloc of 28. While the competence over ratification of the treaty itself or its amendments remains the subject of some controversy, it is generally accepted that the European Commission possesses the competence for ratification or accession especially over treaties related to trade. With respect to the Basel Ban Amendment which the Commission has ratified while individual member states have not all taken the somewhat redundant step of likewise ratifying, our table records the Commission and all of the EU countries which (in total 28), while not all having deposited individual ratifications, nevertheless are bound by the Basel Ban as having “Implemented!” it in national law as required by the Waste Shipment Regulation of the European Union.
European Economic Agreement: Additionally the countries of Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, all members of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) are also bound by the implementation legislation 259/93 and amendments (see below) due to their obligations under the trade linking agreement between EFTA and the EU known as the European Economic Agreement (EEA). As Norway has ratified the Basel Ban Amendment outright, it is listed as a ratifier of the Basel Ban Amendment while Iceland and Liechtenstein are listed as having implemented it.
Basel Ban:
Decision II/12: This decision was passed by a consensus of the 66 Parties at the Second Conference of Parties of the Basel Convention on 25 March 1994. All exports of hazardous wastes from OECD to non-OECD countries would be banned. The ban takes place immediately for final disposal, and for those wastes bound for recycling destinations, the ban would take effect on 31 December 1997.
An X on the table indicates the country joined in the consensus decision.
Decision III/1 and Annex VII: This decision was passed by a consensus of the Parties present at the Third Conference of Parties of the Basel Convention on 22 September 1995. It has been determined that there were 87 Parties at that time. The decision established an amendment to the Convention to establish a new Article 4A and an Annex VII. The article obligates Parties that are listed on Annex VII (country members of the OECD, EU and Liechtenstein) to ban exports of hazardous wastes to all countries not listed on Annex VII. The ban would take place immediately for final disposal, and for those wastes bound for recycling destinations, the ban would take effect on 31 December 1997. The Amendment will go into force when 66 countries (3/4ths of the 87 Parties at that time) have ratified it.
An X on the table, indicates the country joined in the consensus decision in 1995. The word “Ratified” and the country flag indicates that the country has deposited its ratification. The word “Implemented” indicates that the country has not ratified but has in fact implemented the agreement in its national policies or laws. However for a full count of ratifications visit the Deposit Box.
Regional /National Agreements:
Bamako Convention: “The Bamako Convention on the ban on the Import into Africa and the Control of Transboundary Movement and Management of Hazardous Wastes within Africa,” adopted on 29 January 1991, in Bamako, Mali, prohibits the import into Africa of any hazardous, including radioactive, wastes, as well as products which have been banned, cancelled or withdrawn from registration for environmental or health reasons. The Convention entered into force on April 22, 1998.
Broken link? http://www.africa-union.org/root/au/Documents/Treaties/List/Bamako Convention.pdf
The word “Bamako” in the table indicates a country that has ratified the Bamako Convention.
EU Waste Shipment Regulation: The Regulation (EC) No. 1013/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 June 2006 on shipments of waste implements the Basel Convention and the Basel Ban Amendment (III/1) as well as the relevant OECD agreements into binding EU law applicable in all EU member states and EFTA member states by virtue of the EEA agreement. File:Country Status-EU Waste Shipment Regulation - June 14, 2006.pdf [PDF Download]
The letters “EU” in the table indicates a member state of the European Union for which the above regulation is binding law.
WEEE Regulation (as Recast with new Annex VI on Shipments)
Central American Agreement: The Central American Agreement on Hazardous Waste “Acuerdo Regional sobre MovimientoTransfronterizo de Desechos Peligrosos” signed in December of 1992 by the Cumbre de Presidentes del Istmo Centroamericano, creates a ban on the import of all hazardous wastes into the Central American region. The agreement is understood to currently be binding on all 6 member states. The Agreement defines hazardous waste as does the Bamako Convention above.
The letters “CAA” in the table indicates a member state for which the agreement is in force.
Waigani Convention: “The Convention to Ban the Importation into Forum Island Countries of Hazardous and Radioactive Wastes and to Control the Transboundary Movement and Management of Hazardous Wastes within the South Pacific Region” was adopted on the 16 September 1995, in Waigani, Papua New Guinea by the South Pacific Forum States. The treaty prohibits each Pacific Island developing Party from importing all hazardous and radioactive wastes from outside of the Convention area. Australia and New Zealand are prohibited from exporting hazardous or radioactive wastes to all other South Pacific Forum Island countries. The Convention is now in force.
The word “Waigani” in the table indicates a country which has signed the Convention.
Izmir Protocol: The Parties to the Convention for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea against Pollution, (Barcelona Convention) adopted the “Protocol on the Prevention of Pollution of the Mediterranean Sea by Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal” (Izmir Protocol) on 1 October 1996 in Izmir, Turkey. The protocol prohibits the export of hazardous and radioactive wastes to non-OECD countries and those Parties that are not members of the European Community are prohibited from importing hazardous and radioactive wastes. For the purposes of this protocol, Monaco is considered to part of the OECD and the European Community. The protocol is in force.
The word “Izmir” in the table indicates a country that has ratified the protocol.
National Bans: While it is difficult to keep track of all national legislation banning imports or exports of hazardous wastes we have included ones known to exist.
Legend:
Maroon: Basel Convention has entered into force
Gray: Basel Convention has not entered into force/Country is not a party to the Basel Convention
© worldmapmaker.com | Travel Insurance
Legend:
Red: Needed for entry into force - Not ratified
Green: Needed for entry into force of Basel Ban - Ratified
Blue: Not needed for entry into force - Ratified
© worldmapmaker.com | Travel Insurance
* Gray shading indicates an Annex VII country.