Work on improving the PIC procedure prior to BC COP-16

The Basel Convention sets out a detailed Prior Informed Consent (PIC) procedure with strict requirements for transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and other wastes. In June 2022, the Conference of the Parties in its decision BC-15/3 (part II) decided to initiate work to improve the functioning of the PIC procedure.

The Conference of the Parties invited Parties and observers to submit to the Secretariat, by 30 November 2022, information on challenges in the implementation of the prior informed consent procedure and on best practices, possible approaches, initiatives and views to improve the functioning of the procedure, recognizing that developing countries face increasing challenges in implementation of the prior informed consent procedure and that they need further financial and technical assistance and capacity building to address those challenges.

The Conference of the Parties also requested:

  • the Secretariat to make available the information received on the website of the Convention and to prepare a compilation and synthesis of the information received, subject to the availability of resources, for consideration by the Open-ended Working Group at its thirteenth meeting;
  • the Open-ended Working Group at its thirteenth meeting, on the basis of its consideration of the compilation and synthesis of information referred to above to develop draft recommendations for consideration by the Conference of the Parties at its sixteenth meeting.

The information transmitted by Parties and observers on challenges in the implementation of the prior informed consent procedure and on best practices, possible approaches, initiatives and views to improve the functiof the procedure is set out in the table below.

Information on challenges in the implementation of the prior informed consent procedure and on best practices, possible approaches, initiatives and views to improve the functioning of the procedure

  • Parties
  • Observers