§ Mr. KynochTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the United Kingdom will ratify the UNEP Basel convention on the control of transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and their disposal.
§ Mr. AtkinsThe United Kingdom deposited its instrument of ratification for the Basel convention on 7 February. This means that the United Kingdom will become a party to the convention on 8 May. The EC will also become a party on 8 May.
144WThe convention provides a framework for states to control shipments of hazardous waste. where these do occur, the onus is on the exporting state to ensure environmentally sound management of the wastes. Shipments are not allowed between parties and non-parties without specific agreements. Parties may ban imports of waste.
The Waste Shipments Regulation (259/93/EEC), which incorporates the obligations of the Basel convention, will apply on 6 May. The regulation will enable the United Kingdom to control more effectively waste imports and exports. The regulation covers shipments destined for the recovery operations, as well as those going for final disposal.
The United Kingdom is firmly committed to the objectives of the Basel convention. We have been making voluntary financial contributions to the running of the convention each year since 1990.