The Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal was established pursuant to article 15 of the Basel Convention. It is the governing body of the Convention and is composed of governments of all countries that have accepted, ratified or acceded to it. The implementation of the Convention is advanced through the decisions it takes at its periodic meetings.
The Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention promotes the harmonization of appropriate policies, strategies and measures for minimizing harm to human health and the environment by hazardous wastes and other wastes (see also Mandate).
The Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention has established the following subsidiary bodies:
- Expanded Bureau;
- Open-ended Working Group; and
- Committee for Administering the Mechanism for Promoting Implementation and Compliance.
Ordinary meetings of the Conference of the Parties are held every other year, unless the Parties decide otherwise. The meetings of the Conference of the Parties take place at the seat of the Secretariat, unless other arrangements are made by the Secretariat in consultation with Parties.
To date, the Conference of the Parties has held 9 ordinary meetings (December 1992, March 1994, September 1995, February 1998, December 1999, December 2002, October 2004, November 2006 and June 2008) and one extraordinary meeting (February 2010).