Fact Sheet: Asian Network for Prevention of Illegal Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes

 

Date of establishment 2003
Legal basis Established at the initiative of the government of Japan
Objective
  • Sharing information and creating a common understanding on the status of illegal transboundary movements of hazardous wastes among the participating countries, other Parties, networks and organizations;
  • Assisting the participating countries to take national actions to prevent and control illegal transboundary movements of hazardous wastes, in particular, including those relating to protect human health and the environment from adverse effects due to illegal transboundary movements and environmentally unsound management of those wastes; and
  • Contributing to development of a common approach for prevention of illegal transboundary movements of hazardous wastes as well as environmentally sound material cycle in the region.
Nature Informal cooperative network between Parties to the Basel Convention in the North- East and South – East Asia region
Participating countries Brunei Darussalam; Cambodia; China; Hong Kong (SAR China); Indonesia; Japan; Republic of Korea; Malaysia; Philippines; Singapore; Thailand; Viet Nam
Observers Upon invitation by the Secretariat of the network
Geographical scope North- East and South – East Asia region
Substantive scope Hazardous and other wastes within the scope of the Basel Convention
Governance structure Ministry of the Environment of Japan is the Secretariat.
Cooperation Cooperation with a variety of stakeholders such as the Secretariat of the Basel Convention; BCRCs; IMPEL; INECE; WCO; INTERPOL; UNEP/ROAP; industry; governmental agencies.
Activities See clause 2.2 of Terms of Reference for Network (http://www.env.go.jp/en/recycle/asian_net/Annual_Workshops/2010_II_PDF/Additional_Paper/termsofreference1.pdf):
  1. Collecting and disseminating information deemed useful for promoting cooperation and coordination among country authorities for prevention of illegal transboundary movement of wastes in the region
  2. Providing a forum for facilitating day-to-day information exchange and dialogue among participating country authorities;
  3. Supplying the information accumulated in the Network for capacity building activities for Asian countries e.g. guideline and technical manuals;
  4. Organizing workshops, seminars and other training events aiming at promotion of the information exchange activities described above; and
  5. Developing and operating a website linked to relevant organizations (customs, port authorities, and Secretariats of relevant international treaties).
More components may be added in the future if in accordance with the Network’s objective, through consultation among participating countries.
Source of funding Financing from the Ministry of Environment, Japan.
Contact information Dr. Shunichi Honda, Section Chief, Office of Waste Disposal Management, Waste Management and Recycling Department, Ministry of the Environment, Japan
TEL: +81-3-5501-3157
FAX: +81-3-3593-8264
Email: shunichi_honda@env.go.jp
Website http://www.env.go.jp/en/recycle/asian_net/index.html