Basle Convention (Hansard, 30 March 1994)

§ Mr. Gummer

The major issue considered at the second meeting of the conference of the parties to the Basle convention which took place between 21 and 25 March was a proposal to ban movements of hazardous waste from OECD to non-OECD countries. The Government entered the negotiations with two objectives: the first objective, shared with environmentalists, was not to allow the export of wastes for recovery to those non-OECD countries which were unable to manage wastes in an environmentally sound manner. The second objective was to protect legitimate trade in secondary raw materials with non-OECD countries wishing to import hazardous wastes for recovery. During the negotiations the G-77 countries were unanimous in their view that a ban was the best way to protect the environment in non-OECD countries. In view of this unanimous position the Government decided, along with their EC and OECD partners, to agree to a ban. The Government welcome the decision, which was adopted by consensus.

The decision prohibits immediately all movements of hazardous waste for final disposal from OECD to non-OECD states, and prohibits from 31 December 1997 all movements of hazardous wastes for recycling or recovery from OECD to non-OECD states. Movements for recycling or recovery can continue until 31 December 1997 if a non-OECD country allows such imports and has provided information about the categories, quantities and management of acceptable waste imports to the Basle secretariat. The decision will be implemented in the United Kingdom under the Waste Shipments Regulation and will take effect when the United Kingdom becomes a party to the convention on 8 May.

The conference also decided to develop guidance to assist states on the question of what constitutes hazardous waste under the convention. The guidance will be presented to the third meeting of the conference of the parties to be held in September and October 1995. The United Kingdom intends to play an active part in this work. The Government consider that non-hazardous wastes are an important source of business both to OECD and to non-OECD states and ought not to be affected by the decision taken.

"Decision Recalling the request of the G-77 countries at the First Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention in Uruguay, 30 November—4 December 1992, for the total ban on all exports of hazardous wastes from OECD countries to non-OECD countries. Recognising that transboundary movements of hazardous wastes from OECD to non-OECD States have a high risk of not constituting an environmentally sound management of hazardous wastes as required by the Basel Convention. 1. Decides to prohibit immediately all transboundary movements of hazardous wastes which are destined for final disposal from OECD to non-OECD States; 863W 2. Decides also to phase out by 31 December 1997, and prohibit as of that date, all transboundary movements of hazardous wastes which are destined for recycling or recovery operations from OECD to non-OECD States; 3. Decides further that any non-OECD State, not possessing a national hazardous wastes import ban and which allows the import from OECD States of hazardous wastes for recycling or recovery operation until 31 December 1997, should inform the Secretariat of the Basel Convention that it would allow the import from an OECD State of hazardous wastes for recycling or recovery operations by specifying the categories of hazardous wastes which are acceptable for import; the quantities to be imported; the specific recycling/recovery process to be used; and the final destination/disposal of the residues which are derived from recycling/recovery operations; 4. Requests the Parties to report regularly to the Secretariat on the implementation of this decision, including details of the transboundary movements of hazardous wastes allowed under paragraph 3 above. Further requests the Secretariat to prepare a summary and to compile these reports for consideration by the Open-ended Ad Hoc Committee. After considering these reports, the Open-ended Ad Hoc Committee will submit a report based on the input provided by the Secretariat to the Conference of the Parties of the Convention; 5. Requests further the Parties to cooperate and work actively to ensure the effective implementation of this decision.