In the late 1980s, a tightening of environmental regulations in industrialized countries led to a dramatic rise in the cost of hazardous waste disposal. Searching for cheaper ways to get rid of the wastes, “toxic traders” began shipping hazardous waste to developing countries and to Eastern Europe. When this activity was revealed, international outrage led to the drafting and adoption of the Basel Convention. ( read more ... )

The President of the ninth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention (COP 9), in his statement on the way forward on the Ban Amendment (Document UNEP/CHW.9/CRP.20), called for a process to explore means by which objectives of the Ban Amendment might be achieved.

Based on the statement of the President of COP 9, Switzerland and Indonesia announced their readiness to organize a “Country-led Initiative” (CLI), inviting key players, to discuss in an informal, dynamic, and non-dogmatic manner several issues related to transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and the BAN amendment.

This page contains forms adopted by the Basel Convention and other forms which facilitate exchange of information. among Parties, the secretariat, and other participants in the Convention.