Basel ConventionThe Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal was negotiated under the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) in 1989 and entered into force on May 5, 1992. This multilateral environmental agreement regulates the import and export of hazardous waste among the Parties to it, and establishes legal obligations to ensure that such wastes are managed in an environmentally sound manner.
- Parties to the Basel Convention must comply with basic notification
and consent procedures. In addition, before an export of Basel-regulated
hazardous waste can take place, the Parties to the movement must ensure
that the waste will be managed in an environmentally sound manner in
the country of import. To assist in these efforts, the Parties have
developed guidelines on environmentally sound management of certain
waste streams, waste treatment and waste management practices, along
with guidelines on monitoring and detecting illegal traffic in hazardous
- Currently, there are more than 169 parties to the Convention. The United States signed the Basel Convention in 1990. The US Senate provided its advice and consent to ratification in 1992, and the Administration is developing legislation with the necessary statutory authority to implement the Convention's requirements in order to complete the ratification process. Until that time, as a non-party to the Convention, the US participates in the meetings of the Convention parties, but is not allowed to vote.