Sixteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention

Introduction

1. The sixteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, the eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade and the eleventh meeting of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (hereinafter, “the 2023 meetings”) were held in Geneva from 1 to 12 May 2023. In decisions BC-15/29, RC-10/18 and SC-10/25, on the dates and venue of the next meetings of the conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions, the conferences of the Parties decided that the meetings would include joint sessions on joint issues and would not feature a high-level segment.

2. Annex, decision BC-16/14, paragraph 13

For the existing text substitute
13. Decides to amend the checklist for the legislator11 by adding Article 4A with a footnote reading “This provision only binds Parties that have consented to be bound by it”, and the following text as a description of the obligation: “If a Party listed in Annex VII to the Convention, make provision for the obligation to prohibit all transboundary movements of hazardous wastes which are destined for operations according to section A of Annex IV and all transboundary movements of hazardous wastes under paragraph 1 (a) of Article 1 of the Convention which are destined for operations according to section B of Annex IV, to States not listed in Annex VII”;

The Conference of the Parties

1. Recalls decision BC-13/1 on the Strategic Framework for the implementation of the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal for 2012–2021, and the draft report on the final evaluation of the strategic framework for the implementation of the Basel Convention for 2012–2021;

The Conference of the Parties

1. Takes note of the compilation and synthesis of information received from Parties and observers on challenges in the implementation of the prior informed consent procedure of the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal and on best practices, possible approaches, initiatives and views to improve the functioning of the procedure;

The Conference of the Parties

1. Welcomes with appreciation the contributions made by the small intersessional working group established by paragraph 9 of decision OEWG-I/4 to the tasks pertaining to technical guidelines on the environmentally sound management of wastes consisting of, containing or contaminated with persistent organic pollutants;

The Conference of the Parties

1. Welcomes with appreciation the contributions made by the Governments of China, Japan and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, as co-lead countries, and the small intersessional working group established pursuant to paragraph 20 of decision BC-14/13 to the tasks pertaining to the technical guidelines on the environmentally sound management of plastic wastes;

The Conference of the Parties

1. Welcomes with appreciation the contributions made by the expert working group established by paragraph 4 of decision BC-13/5 to the tasks pertaining to the technical guidelines on transboundary movements of electrical and electronic waste and used electrical and electronic equipment, in particular regarding the distinction between waste and non-waste under the Basel Convention;

The Conference of the Parties

1. Welcomes with appreciation the contributions made by the Governments of China and Uruguay1 and by the European Union,2 as co-leads, and by the small intersessional working group established pursuant to paragraph 6 of decision BC-15/11 to the tasks pertaining to the technical guidelines on the environmentally sound management of waste lead-acid batteries and other waste batteries;

The Conference of the Parties

1. Welcomes with appreciation the contributions made by the small intersessional working group established pursuant to paragraph 5 of decision BC-15/15 to the tasks pertaining to the technical guidelines on the environmentally sound management of used and waste pneumatic tyres;

The Conference of the Parties

1. Takes note of the report on the status of work of the World Customs Organization on the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System related to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal;

The Conference of the Parties

1. Encourages Parties that have not yet done so to transmit to the Secretariat their national reports for the year 2021 and for previous years as soon as possible;

2. Takes note of the information on the provision by Parties of information on waste generation in their national reports and invites Parties that have not yet done so to include such information in their national reports at least once every four years and to provide detailed national statistics on the generation of waste types for which practical guidance on the development of inventories is available;

The Conference of the Parties

Welcoming with appreciation the work of the small intersessional working group established pursuant to paragraph 2 of decision BC-15/14,

1. Takes note of the report with recommendations on the next steps regarding the work on electronic approaches to the notification and movement documents prepared by the Secretariat in consultation with the small intersessional working group;

The Conference of the Parties,

1. Takes note of the draft document on possible further activities that could be conducted under the Basel Convention in response to developments in scientific knowledge and environmental information and health impacts related to plastic waste as a source of land pollution, marine plastic litter and microplastics, and of the compilation of inputs from Parties at the sixteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties;

The Conference of the Parties,

1. Requests the Secretariat, subject to the availability of resources, to prepare draft updates of the following documents in order to reflect adjustments consequential to the adoption of the amendments to Annexes II, VIII and IX to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal, set out in decision BC-15/18 and known as the “e-waste amendments”:

The Conference of the Parties,

1. Takes note of the information provided by Parties and observers related to activities aimed at addressing issues related to waste containing nanomaterials;

2. Invites Parties and observers to make available to the Secretariat, by 31 December 2023, any new information related to activities aimed at addressing issues related to waste containing nanomaterials, including case studies about and best practices relating to the management of waste containing nanomaterials;

The Conference of the Parties

1. Takes note of the note by the Secretariat on the work of the Committee Administering the Mechanism for Promoting Implementation and Compliance;

2. Welcomes the progress made by the Committee in the implementation of its work programme for the biennium 2022–2023 and the conclusions reached to improve timely and complete national reporting under paragraph 3 of Article 13 of the Convention, prevent and combat illegal traffic, improve implementation of and compliance with paragraph 4 of Article 4 and paragraph 5 of Article 9 of the Convention, improve the implementation of and compliance with Article 5 of the Convention and enhance cooperation with the Compliance Committee of the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade;

The Conference of the Parties,

1. Welcomes the progress made by the expert working group on the review of Annexes I, III and IV in the review of Annexes I and III1 and takes note of the draft recommendations and findings developed by the group;

The Conference of the Parties,

Noting decision BC-16/24 on synergies in preventing and combating illegal traffic and trade in hazardous chemicals and wastes,

Noting also decision BC-16/14 on the Committee Administering the Mechanism for Promoting Implementation and Compliance,

1. Takes note of the report on the implementation of the technical assistance plan for the period 2022–2025 in the biennium 20222023, including capacity-building activities for the implementation of the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade and the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, and of the database summarizing technical assistance needs;

The Conference of the Parties,

I Follow-up partnership to the Partnership for Action on Computing Equipment

1. Welcomes the activities undertaken by the working group of the Partnership for Action on Challenges relating to E-waste (hereinafter “the Partnership”) to implement its programme of work;

The Conference of the Parties,

Recognizing that environmental challenges have been increasing in magnitude and complexity while resources aimed at mitigating problems are not matching needs,

Welcoming the assessment of the relevance for the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade and the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants of existing guidelines developed by the United Nations system on the mobilization of resources from non-State actors,

The Conference of the Parties

Adopts the work programme of the Open-ended Working Group for the biennium 20242025 as set out in the annex to the present decision.

The Conference of the Parties,

Recognizing that the sharing of services within a stable framework will enhance cooperation and coordination based on experience and proximity and can foster the effective implementation of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions and the Minamata Convention without undermining the autonomy of the secretariats or the accountability of their executive heads,

The Conference of the Parties

1. Takes note of the report by the Secretariat on international cooperation and coordination for the period 1 January–31 December 2022, the information provided by the secretariat of the intergovernmental negotiating committee to develop a legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment, on the work of the committee, the update provided by the secretariat of the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management on the intersessional process considering the Strategic Approach and the sound management of chemicals and wastes beyond 2020, the information on activities undertaken by the United Nations Environment Programme on programmatic matters pertaining to the conventions and the information note provided by the secretariat of the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns;

The Conference of the Parties

Noting the priority areas for action recognized in decision SC-11/17, on the effectiveness evaluation, as they relate to the clearing-house mechanism,

Noting also decision RC-11/5 on the Compliance Committee of the Rotterdam Convention, in particular the activities on information exchange included in the programme of work for the biennium 20242025 of the Compliance Committee,

The Conference of the Parties,

Recalling decisions BC-15/27, RC-10/16 and SC-10/23, on synergies in preventing and combating illegal traffic and trade in hazardous chemicals and wastes,

The Conference of the Parties

Noting the priority areas for action recognized in decision SC-11/16, on effectiveness evaluation, as they relate to strengthening science-policy-industry interactions,

1. Takes note of the information on action to implement the road map for further engaging Parties and other stakeholders in informed dialogue for enhanced science-based action in the implementation of the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade and the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants;

The Conference of the Parties

1. Decides to convene the next meetings of the conferences of the Parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade and the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants back to back, from 28 April to 9 May 2025, in Geneva;

The Conference of the Parties

Recalling decision BC-15/30, in which it requested the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme to comply with the memorandum of understanding between the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme and the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, in particular with regard to core services costs to be supported by the United Nations Environment Programme pursuant to the annex to the memorandum of understanding,

The Conference of the Parties,

Recalling decision BC-15/30 on the programme of work and budget for the Basel Convention for the biennium 2022–2023,

Taking note of the financial reports for 2020 and 2021 from the trust fund for the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal (Basel Convention general trust fund),

1. Opening of the meeting.

2. Adoption of the agenda.

3. Organizational matters:

Item 1

Opening of the meeting

1. The sixteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal will be held in Geneva from 1 to 12 May 2023, back to back with the eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade and the eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. The meetings will feature joint sessions on joint issues. The meetings will be opened at 10 a.m. on Monday, 1 May 2023 by the three presidents of the conferences of the Parties.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. At its sixteenth meeting, the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal is expected to elect the officers of the Conference of the Parties who will serve during its seventeenth meeting and the officers of the Open ended Working Group of the Basel Convention who will serve during the fourteenth meeting of the Working Group.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. In paragraph 4 of decision BC-15/3, on the strategic framework, the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal decided to improve, as appropriate, the strategic framework for the period 2012–2021, taking into account the main findings, conclusions and recommendations of the report on the final evaluation of the strategic framework as reflected in the decisions adopted at its fifteenth meeting and the lessons learned in the preparation of the report, especially those pertaining to technical assistance, capacity building, technology transfer and cooperation, including through strengthened and coordinated actions of regional centres.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. In part II of decision BC-15/3 on the strategic framework, on work to improve the functioning of the prior informed consent procedure, the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal invited Parties and observers to submit to the Secretariat, by 30 November 2022, information on challenges in the implementation of the prior informed consent procedure and on best practices, possible approaches, initiatives and views to improve the functioning of the procedure, recognizing that developing countries faced increasing challenges in implementation of the prior informed consent procedure and that they needed further financial and technical assistance and capacity building to address those challenges.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. In paragraph 3 of decision BC-15/5, on developing guidelines for environmentally sound management, the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal invited Parties and others to provide the Secretariat with information on the environmentally sound management of hazardous wastes and other wastes, in particular, activities, initiatives and case studies that might promote implementation and complement the toolkit on environmentally sound management, and requested the Secretariat to make such information available on the website of the Basel Convention.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Technical guidelines on the environmentally sound management of wastes consisting of, containing or contaminated with persistent organic pollutants

A. Introduction

1. In paragraph 2 of decision BC-15/6, the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal adopted three technical guidelines on the environmentally sound management of wastes consisting of, containing or contaminated with persistent organic pollutants (UNEP/CHW.15/6/Add.1/Rev.1, UNEP/CHW.15/6/Add.2/Rev.1, UNEP/CHW.15/6/Add.3/Rev.1).

Note by the Secretariat

1. As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on technical guidelines (UNEP/CHW.16/6), the annex to the present note sets out the draft updated general technical guidelines on the environmentally sound management of wastes consisting of, containing or contaminated with persistent organic pollutants (draft updated version of 1 December 2022) for consideration by the Conference of the Parties.

Note by the Secretariat

At its sixteenth meeting, the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal adopted, in decision BC 16/3 on technical guidelines on the environmentally sound management of wastes consisting of, containing or contaminated with persistent organic pollutants, the general technical guidelines on the environmentally sound management of wastes consisting of, containing or contaminated with persistent organic pollutants, on the basis of document UNEP/CHW.16/6/Add.1. The text of the technical guidelines, as adopted, is set out in the annex to the present note. The present note, including its annex, has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

1. As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on technical guidelines (UNEP/CHW.16/6), the annex to the present note sets out the draft updated technical guidelines on the environmentally sound management of wastes consisting of, containing or contaminated with perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), its salts and perfluorooctane sulfonyl fluoride (PFOSF), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), its salts and PFOA-related compounds, and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), its salts and PFHxS related compounds (draft updated version of 1 December 2022) for consideration by the Conference of the Parties.

Note by the Secretariat

At its sixteenth meeting, the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal adopted, in decision BC 16/3 on technical guidelines on the environmentally sound management of wastes consisting of, containing or contaminated with persistent organic pollutants, the technical guidelines on the environmentally sound management of wastes consisting of, containing or contaminated with perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), its salts and perfluorooctane sulfonyl fluoride (PFOSF), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), its salts and PFOA related compounds, and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), its salts and PFHxS related compounds, on the basis of document UNEP/CHW.16/6/Add.2. The text of the technical guidelines, as adopted, is set out in the annex to the present note. The present note, including its annex, has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

1. As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on technical guidelines (UNEP/CHW.16/6), the annex to the present note sets out the draft updated technical guidelines on the environmentally sound management of plastic wastes (draft updated version of 16 December 2022) prepared by the Governments of China, Japan and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, as co-lead countries, in consultation with the small intersessional working group on plastic wastes for consideration by the Conference of the Parties at its sixteenth meeting.

Note by the Secretariat

At its sixteenth meeting, the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal adopted, in decision BC 16/4 on technical guidelines on the environmentally sound management of plastic wastes, the technical guidelines on the environmentally sound management of plastic wastes, on the basis of document UNEP/CHW.16/6/Add.3. The text of the technical guidelines, as adopted, is set out in the annex to the present note. The present note, including its annex, has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. In paragraph 3 (a) of decision BC-14/9, the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal requested the Secretariat to submit to the World Customs Organization a proposal for amending the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (hereinafter the Harmonized System) to allow the identification of 13 types of wastes, eight of which were to be afforded higher priority and five of which were to be afforded medium priority.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. In paragraph 2 of decision BC-15/13, on national reporting, the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal encouraged Parties that had not yet done so to transmit to the Secretariat their national reports for the year 2020 and for previous years as soon as possible.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. In paragraph 2 of decision BC-15/14, on electronic approaches to the notification and movement documents, the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal decided to establish a small intersessional working group, operating by electronic means, to look further into electronic approaches to the notification and movement documents, taking into account the report of the first consultative workshop on electronic approaches to the notification and movement documents of the Basel Convention, including the elements for further discussion set out therein, and previous reports prepared on that topic.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. Following the amendments to Annexes II, VIII and IX adopted in decision BC-14/12, the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, in paragraph 1 of decision BC-15/15, took note of the background information related to a possible future assessment of the effectiveness of the measures taken under the Basel Convention to address plastic waste and to possible further activities that could be conducted under the Convention.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. In decision BC-15/18, on amendments to Annexes II, VIII and IX to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention decided to amend Annexes II, VIII and IX to the Basel Convention in relation to electrical and electronic waste (hereinafter referred to as the e-waste amendments).

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. In paragraph 2 of decision BC-15/16, on waste containing nanomaterials, the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal invited Parties and others to make available to the Secretariat, by 31 December 2022, information related to activities aimed at addressing issues related to waste containing nanomaterials, including case studies about and best practices relating to the management of waste containing nanomaterials.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. In decision BC-15/17, the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal approved the work programme of the Committee Administering the Mechanism for Promoting Implementation and Compliance for the biennium 2022–2023 set out in the annex to that decision.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. In decision BC-15/19, on providing further legal clarity, the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal recalled the mandate of the expert working group on the review of the annexes to the Convention, as set out in decisions BC-13/2, BC 14/13 and BC-14/16, and decided to remove the review of entries A1180 in Annex VIII and B1110 in Annex IX from the mandate of the group.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. In decision BC-15/20, on national legislation, notifications, enforcement of the Convention and efforts to combat illegal traffic, the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal reiterated a number of invitations to Parties and others. These included, amongst other things, an invitation to Parties, if they had not yet done so, to provide the Secretariat with information on national definitions of hazardous wastes as required under Article 3 and paragraph 2 (b) of Article 13 of the Convention, or any information on import or export restrictions or prohibitions as required under paragraph 1 (a) and (b) of Article 4 of the Convention and paragraph 2 (c) and (d) of Article 13 of the Convention.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. On 28 February 2020, the Secretariat received a proposal from the Russian Federation to amend paragraph 2 of Article 6 of the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, for consideration by the Conference of the Parties at its fifteenth meeting. The proposal was accompanied by an explanatory note. The proposal is reproduced in the annex to the present note, without formal editing. The explanatory note, in English, French, Russian and Spanish, is set out in document UNEP/CHW.15/INF/26, along with tracked changes to paragraph 2 of Article 6 reflecting the proposed amendment, for the convenience of Parties.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. In section I of decisions BC-15/21, RC-10/12 and SC 10/15 on technical assistance, the conferences of the Parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade and the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants took note of the report on the needs of developing country Parties and Parties with economies in transition for technical assistance and technology transfer, the database summarizing technical assistance needs and the report on the implementation of the technical assistance plan for the period 2018–2021, and welcomed the technical assistance plan for the implementation of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions for the period 2022–2025.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. In paragraph 16 of decision BC-15/21, on technical assistance, the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal requested the Basel Convention regional and coordinating centres to submit to the Secretariat:

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. In paragraph 2 of section I of decision BC-15/22 on the Basel Convention Partnership Programme, on the Follow-up Partnership to the Partnership for Action on Computing Equipment, the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal adopted the amendments to the terms of reference of the Partnership, including the new name of the Partnership, and the programme of work for the biennium 2022–2023 of the working group of the Partnership, and requested the working group of the Partnership to implement the activities included in the programme of work. In paragraph 3 of the decision, the Conference of the Parties invited Parties, signatories and all other stakeholders, including manufacturers, recyclers, refurbishers, academia, relevant e-waste platforms, non-governmental and intergovernmental organizations, and former partners of the Partnership for Action on Computing Equipment, to communicate to the Secretariat no later than 31 August 2022 their wish to be admitted as a member of the working group of the Partnership. The Secretariat was requested to report on progress in the implementation of the decision to the Open-ended Working Group of the Basel Convention at its thirteenth meeting and to the Conference of the Parties at its sixteenth meeting.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on the Basel Convention Partnership Programme (UNEP/CHW.16/19), the annex to the present note sets out the draft programme of work of the working group of the Partnership for Action on Challenges relating to E-waste for the biennium 2024–2025. The draft programme of work was also made available to the thirteenth meeting of the Open-ended Working Group (UNEP/CHW/OEWG.13/INF/15). The present note, including its annex, has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on Basel Convention Partnership Programme (UNEP/CHW.16/19), the annex to the present note sets out the revised draft overall guidance document on the environmentally sound management of household waste for consideration and possible adoption by the Conference of the Parties. The present note, including its annex, has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on Basel Convention Partnership Programme (UNEP/CHW.16/19), the annex to the present note sets out the draft workplan of the working group of the Plastic Waste Partnership for the biennium 2024‒2025. The draft workplan is based on the four project group workplans developed by the working group and made available for information in UNEP/CHW.16/INF/57. The four project group workplans were also made available to the thirteenth meeting of the Open-ended Working Group (UNEP/CHW/OEWG.13/INF/16) for its consideration. The present note, including its annex, has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

The annex to the present note sets out the updated workplan of the working group of the Plastic Waste Partnership for the biennium 2024–2025, as amended during the 2023 meetings of the conferences of the Parties. The present note, including its annex, has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. The Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, at its fifteenth meeting, decided that the thirteenth meeting of the Open-ended Working Group of the Basel Convention would take place in Geneva for a duration of three days in the week starting 20 February 2023.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. At its fifteenth meeting, the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal agreed to hold the thirteenth meeting of the Open-ended Working Group in Geneva, as an in-person meeting and with the same conditions for online participation as agreed by the Bureau of the Conference of the Parties for the face-to-face segment of its fifteenth meeting, for a duration of three days in the week starting 20 February 2023. By its decision BC-15/23, the Conference of the Parties adopted the work programme of the Open-ended Working Group for the biennium 2022–2023, which included a priority level for each activity in the work programme to support the planning of the thirteenth meeting of the Open-ended Working Group, in case there was insufficient time to consider all the activities at that meeting.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. In decisions BC-15/24, RC-10/13 and SC-10/20, on cooperation and coordination with the Minamata Convention on Mercury, taken in response to decisions MC-3/11 and MC-4/9 which were adopted by the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury at its third and fourth meetings, the conferences of the Parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade and the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants affirmed the importance of continued cooperation on programmatic synergies, of the use of the task force between the two secretariats and the United Nations Environment Programme Chemicals and Health Branch, and of the possibility for the Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions to provide secretariat support to the Minamata Convention on a cost recovery basis, in accordance with the programme of work and budget of the conventions for each biennium.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. In decisions BC-15/25, RC-10/14 and SC-10/21, on international cooperation and coordination, the conferences of the Parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade and the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, respectively, requested the Executive Secretary:

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. In decisions BC-15/26, RC-10/15 and SC-10/22, on the clearing-house mechanism for information exchange, the conferences of the Parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade and the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, respectively, requested the Secretariat, subject to the availability of resources, to continue the work to implement the strategy of the joint clearing-house mechanism in a gradual and cost-effective manner and to implement the activities of the workplan for the implementation of the joint clearing-house mechanism for the biennium 2022–2023 in accordance with the programmes of work and budgets for the conventions for that biennium.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. In decisions BC-13/20, RC-8/13 and SC-8/23, on mainstreaming gender, the conferences of the Parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade and the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, respectively, welcomed the Gender Action Plan of the Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions and the report on the implementation of the Plan (UNEP/CHW.13/INF/46–UNEP/FAO/RC/COP.8/INF/32–UNEP/POPS/COP.8/INF/49, annex) and requested the Secretariat to continue its efforts in respect of gender mainstreaming in its activities, projects and programmes.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. In decisions BC-15/27, RC-10/16 and SC-10/23, on synergies in preventing and combating illegal traffic and trade in hazardous chemicals and wastes, the conferences of the Parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade and the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants encouraged Parties to provide information to the Secretariat about best practices for preventing and combating illegal traffic and trade in the chemicals and wastes covered by the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions, including the texts of any measures that have been adopted by them for that purpose.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. During the 2022 face-to-face segments of their meetings, the conferences of the Parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade and the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants adopted identical decisions entitled “From science to action”, in which, among other things, they took note of the information on progress in the action by Parties and others to promote the implementation of the road map for further engaging Parties and other stakeholders in informed dialogue for enhanced science-based action in the implementation of the conventions, as provided in the note by the Secretariat entitled “From science to action”, and encouraged Parties and others to continue to undertake action that promotes the implementation of the road map.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. In decisions BC-15/30, RC-10/19 and SC-10/26, on programmes of work and budgets for the biennium 2022–2023, the conferences of the Parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade and the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants:

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. In decision BC-14/26, on the memorandum of understanding between the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention adopted the memorandum of understanding as set out in the annex to that decision and requested the President of the Conference of the Parties, on behalf of the Conference of the Parties, and the Executive Director of UNEP to sign the memorandum of understanding during or after the closure of the fourteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. Meetings of the conferences of the Parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade and the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants are to take place at the seat(s) of the Secretariat, unless the conferences of the Parties decide otherwise or other appropriate arrangements are made by the Secretariat, in consultation with the Parties.

Introduction

1. The sixteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, the eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade and the eleventh meeting of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (hereinafter, “the 2023 meetings”) were held in Geneva from 1 to 12 May 2023. In decisions BC-15/29, RC-10/18 and SC-10/25, on the dates and venue of the next meetings of the conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions, the conferences of the Parties decided that the meetings would include joint sessions on joint issues and would not feature a high-level segment.

2. Annex, decision BC-16/14, paragraph 13

For the existing text substitute
13. Decides to amend the checklist for the legislator11 by adding Article 4A with a footnote reading “This provision only binds Parties that have consented to be bound by it”, and the following text as a description of the obligation: “If a Party listed in Annex VII to the Convention, make provision for the obligation to prohibit all transboundary movements of hazardous wastes which are destined for operations according to section A of Annex IV and all transboundary movements of hazardous wastes under paragraph 1 (a) of Article 1 of the Convention which are destined for operations according to section B of Annex IV, to States not listed in Annex VII”;