Export and Import Control Tool

The export and import control tool focuses on the Basel Convention provisions pertaining to the control of transboundary movements of hazardous and other wastes. Its aim is to assist Parties, States and stakeholders (generators, exporters, importers, disposers) in identifying whether the Basel Convention applies and what legal requirements should be borne in mind before initiating a transboundary movement.

As a first step, the user is invited to verify that the object of the proposed movement is indeed a “waste” as defined by the Basel Convention and a type of waste covered by the Basel Convention. In a second step, by accessing the tool, the user will have access to information on the applicable legal requirements, for instance taking into account whether the States involved are Parties or not, whether a national definition of hazardous wastes is in place, and whether there are restrictions or prohibitions pertaining to the import or export of hazardous or other wastes.

For detailed information about the Basel Convention provisions pertaining to the control of transboundary movements, please refer to:

This tool was developed in the context of the 2014-2015 work programme of the Basel Convention Committee for Administering the Mechanism for Promoting Implementation and Compliance with the Basel Convention, thanks to a financial contribution from the European Union.

Is what you want to export “waste” as defined by the Basel Convention?

The Basel Convention and its system for controlling imports, exports and transits applies to “substances or objects which are disposed of or are intended to be disposed of or are required to be disposed of by the provisions of national law”. The Basel Convention defines “disposal” as any operation specified in its Annex IV.

  • Check whether the substance or object you want to export is destined for a disposal operation in accordance with the Basel Convention, and thus “waste”.
  • Check whether the substance or object is required to be disposed of by the provisions of national law. You can do so by:

Is the waste you want to export a type of waste covered by the Basel Convention?

The Basel Convention and its provisions aimed at controlling imports, exports and transits apply to specific categories of wastes.

  • Check whether the waste you want to export matches one or more of the Basel Convention waste categories:
      • Hazardous wastes under Annex I or Annex VIII, unless they do not contain Annex I material to an extent causing them to exhibit an Annex III characteristic
      • Other wastes under Annex II, namely household wastes
      • Wastes under Annex IX which contain Annex I material to an extent causing them to exhibit an Annex III characteristic.

Even if the waste you wish to export does not fall within one of the three above mentioned categories, it may be defined as “hazardous wastes” by a Party and therefore fall under the scope of the Basel Convention. If you know the Parties concerned by the transboundary movement of the wastes, the tool will allow you to consult whether the Parties have notified the Secretariat of such a national definition. Alternatively, you may consult the “national definitions of hazardous wastes” section of the website where you may have access to such definitions as notified to the Secretariat to see whether the waste falls within this special category.

For further information on the control of transboundary movements, please click here.

Please click here to access the export and import control tool