Basel Convention

The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundry Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal was adopted on 22 March 1989 and entered into force on 5 May 1992. The Basel Convention emphasizes, amongst other principles, environmentally sound management of hazardous wastes, which is defined as taking all practicable steps to ensure that hazardous wastes are managed in a manner which will protect human health and the environment against the adverse effects which may result from such wastes. The Convention stipulates a number of specific objectives, including the following:

  • The reduction of transboundry movements of hazardous and other wastes subject to the Basel Convention.
  • The prevention and minimization of the generation of hazardous wastes.
  • The active promotion of the transfer and use of cleaner technologies.

These objectives are supported by a regulatory system for the monitoring and control of hazardous wastes that has been set up and is set forth in the full text of the Convention. Some of the key elements of the regulatory system of the Basel Convention are prior notice and informed consent; prohibition of exports to countries which are not contracting Parties to the Convention; legal provisions for the duty to re-import; and the responsibilities of Parties involved in transboundry movements. One of the provisions under the Basel Convention which places an obligation on the state of export is to provide advance notice to and obtain approval from importing and transit countries before any shipment of hazardous waste is initiated. It should be recognized that all countries have the sovereign right to ban the entry or disposal of foreign hazardous wastes and any other wastes in their territory.

Countries of export and import are required to assure themselves that wastes destined for final disposal or recycling will be managed in an environmentally sound manner. No transboundry movement should be allowed to proceed if the exporting and importing countries believe that the wastes in question will not be managed in an environmentally sound manner. Lastly, each shipment of hazardous waste or other waste must be accompanied by a movement document from the point at which a transboundry movement begins to the point of disposal. Once consents have been obtained, wastes must be transported with the appropriate packaging and labelling, as required by international transportation rules such as the United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods and Model Regulations.


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