This mandatory procedure, prescribed in Article 6 of the Basel Convention, consists of four key stages:

Stage 1: Notification:

The exporter/generator informs the competent authority of the exporting country of a proposed TBM of hazardous or other wastes, who in turn notifies counterparts in importing and any transit countries of the proposed TBM. The notifications must include the specified declarations and information specified in Annex V A to the Convention.

Stage 2: Consent & issuance of movement document

The importing country is to respond to the notifier in writing, consenting to the shipment (with or without conditions), denying permission or requesting additional information. It also needs to confirm the existence of a contract between the exporter and the disposer specifying the environmentally sound management2 of the wastes. Consent in writing from transit countries is also required unless the country has decided not to require prior written consent for transit movements. In such instances, if no response is received within 60 days of giving notification the export may proceed. Besides this exception, TBMs cannot begin until consent has been obtained from all import and transit countries. Upon receipt of all required consents, the country of export can proceed with the issuance of the movement document and allow the TBM to start.

Stage 3: TBM

Each person who takes charge of a TBM has to sign the movement document. It contains detailed information about the shipment and must accompany the consignment from the point at which a TBM commences to the point of disposal.

Stage 4: Confirmation of disposal: final disposal, recovery, recycling, reclamation, according to the contract

The importer or disposer must confirm to the exporter and country of export that the waste has been finally disposed, recovered, recycled, reclaimed, reused, according to the terms of the contract. If this information is not received, the exporting competent authority must follow up with importing competent authority.