Fifteenth meeting of the Open-ended Working Group of the Basel Convention (OEWG-15)

Geneva, Switzerland, from 23 to 26 June 2026

Venue: Geneva International Conference Centre (CICG), 17 rue de Varembé, Geneva, Switzerland.

Highlights: The fifteenth meeting of the Open-ended Working Group will take place from Tuesday, 23 June to Friday, 26 June 2026, with pre-meetings, including Bureau and regional meetings, taking place on Monday, 22 June.

The Working Group is expected to progress items in its work programme, with topics to include:

• Work to improve the functioning of the prior informed consent procedure
• Technical guidelines on Persistent Organic Pollutants, e-waste, waste lead-acid batteries, used and waste pneumatic tyres and mercury
• Practical guidance on the development of inventories of waste for certain waste streams
• Plastic waste
• Used textiles and textile waste
• Providing further legal clarity
• Basel Convention Partnership Programme
• Cooperation with the World Customs Organization and the International Maritime Organization

If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Susan Wingfield, Secretariat of the Basel Convention (e-mail: susan.wingfield@un.org).

Important note: On 23 March 2026, the Government of Norway submitted an Application form on the placement or removal of wastes on Annexes VIII and IX to the Basel Convention. A communication transmitting this information to Focal Points to the Basel Convention can be viewed here.

Please note that the online registration system for OEWG-15 available at https://registration.brsmeas.org will be closed on Tuesday, 16 June 2026, at 6 p.m. (UTC+2). After this date, only on-site registration at the Conference Centre will be possible and extended waiting times need to be expected. The Secretariat strongly encourages all participants to register prior to this deadline.