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. Work undertaken prior to the sixteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties is available here.
It its sixteenth meeting, the Conference of the Parties by decision BC-16/2 decided to establish the small intersessional working group to improve the functioning of the PIC procedure.
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.