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 has established a small intersessional working group to improve the functioning of the PIC procedure (decisions BC-16/2 and BC-17/2).
The small intersessional working group was established open to all Parties, with the aim of balanced representation of the five regional groups of the United Nations.
The small intersessional working group is to:
- Identify challenges in the implementation of the prior informed consent procedure under the Basel Convention and best practices, possible approaches and initiatives to improve its functioning taking into account the compilation and synthesis of information received from Parties and observers set out in document UNEP/CHW.16/INF/6, the discussion during the thirteenth meeting of the Open-ended Working Group, views expressed at the sixteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties, and ongoing work under the Convention.
- Develop recommendations for improving the functioning of the procedure, avoiding duplication of work and ensuring consistency.
In its seventeenth meeting, the Conference of the Parties by decision BC-17/2:
- Decided that the small intersessional working group will continue to operate by electronic means and, subject to the availability of resources, will also hold face-to-face meetings;
- Requested the lead country or countries or, in the absence of a lead country, the Secretariat, subject to the availability of resources and in consultation with the small intersessional working group, to prepare a report on further options for improving the functioning of the prior informed consent procedure, for consideration by the Open-ended Working Group of the Basel Convention at its fifteenth meeting and by the Conference of the Parties at its eighteenth meeting.