Sixteenth meeting of the Basel Convention Implementation and Compliance Committee (ICC-16)

1. Opening of the meeting.

2. Adoption of the agenda.

Item 1

Opening of the meeting

1. The sixteenth meeting of the Committee Administering the Mechanism for Promoting Implementation and Compliance (‘the Committee’) will be convened at the Geneva International Conference Centre (CICG), Geneva, Switzerland, on 23 and 24 June 2024 and at the International Environment House II, Geneva, Switzerland, from 29 June to 2 July 2024. The meeting will be opened by the Chair of the Committee, Jason Dunn (Australia), at 9 a.m. on Sunday, 23 June 2024, following a meeting of the Bureau of the Committee convened at 8.30 a.m.

Item 1

Opening of the meeting

1. During the first part of its sixteenth meeting, convened at the Geneva International Conference Centre (CICG), Geneva, Switzerland, on 23 and 24 June 2024 and at the International Environment House II, Geneva, Switzerland, from 29 June to 2 July 2024, the Committee Administering the Mechanism for Promoting Implementation and Compliance (‘the Committee’) the Committee completed its consideration of the opening of the meeting (item 1).

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. By its decision BC-16/14, the Conference of the Parties at its sixteenth meeting adopted the work programme for the biennium 20242025 of the Committee Administering the Mechanism for Promoting Implementation and Compliance, annexed to that decision, whereby it mandated the Committee, among other things, to improve timely and complete national reporting under paragraph 3 of Article 13 of the Convention, as follows:

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on national reporting (UNEP/CHW/CC.16/3), the annexes to the present note set out revised classifications of Parties’ compliance performance with their national reporting obligation for 2018 and 2019 taking into account the feedback received from Parties on the draft classifications considered by the Committee during its fifteenth meeting.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on national reporting (UNEP/CHW/CC.16/3), the annexes to the present note set out draft classifications of Parties’ compliance performance with their national reporting obligation for 2020 and 2021.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on annotations to the provisional agenda (UNEP/CHW/CC.16/1/Add.2), revised classifications of Parties’ compliance performance with their national reporting obligation for 2020 and 2021 are before the Committee.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on national reporting (UNEP/CHW/CC.16/3) the annex to the present note sets out a report on the extent to which Parties with national reporting needs are including actions to address them in their Cooperation Framework.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on national reporting (UNEP/CHW/CC.16/3) the annex to the present note sets out a report on the activities of the Basel Convention regional and coordinating centres and other entities aimed at assisting Parties in transmitting national reports under the Basel Convention.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on national reporting (UNEP/CHW/CC.16/3) the annex to the present note sets out a report on the activities of the Basel Convention regional and coordinating centres and other entities aimed at assisting Parties in transmitting national reports under the Basel Convention. The report was revised in advance of the dialogue to take into account additional submissions received from Basel Convention Regional Centres and other entities.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on national reporting (UNEP/CHW/CC.16/3) the annex to the present note sets out a report reviewing the information provided in tables 4 and 5 of the national reports for the years 2020 and 2021 with a view to identifying discrepancies in the information reported by Parties, including draft recommendations for improving national reporting to be consulted with the Open-Ended Working Group during its fourteenth meeting.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on annotations to the agenda (UNEP/CHW/CC.16/1/Add.2) the annex to the present note sets out a revised report reviewing the information provided in tables 4 and 5 of the national reports for the years 2020 and 2021 with a view to identifying discrepancies in the information reported by Parties, including draft recommendations for improving national reporting. The revised report takes into account comments received from Argentina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Equatorial Guinea, the European Union and its member States, Mauritius, Myanmar, New Zealand, Philippines and Saudi Arabia, as available on the website of the Convention .

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on national reporting (UNEP/CHW/CC.16/3), the annex to the present note sets out a report on measures not included under paragraphs 20(a) and (b) of the terms of reference of the Implementation and Compliance Committee.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. By its decision BC-16/14, the Conference of the Parties at its sixteenth meeting adopted the work programme for the biennium 20242025 of the Committee Administering the Mechanism for Promoting Implementation and Compliance, annexed to that decision, whereby it mandated the Committee, among other things, to undertake activities with the objective of preventing and combating illegal traffic.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on illegal traffic (UNEP/CHW/CC.16/4) the annex to the present note sets out a report scoping the extent of illegal traffic on the basis of the information provided in table 9 of the national reports transmitted by Parties for the years 2020 and 2021.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on illegal traffic (UNEP/CHW/CC.16/4) the annex to the present note sets out a report on enhancing coordination between competent authorities and enforcement entities and on activities aimed at disseminating guidance and tools developed under the Convention.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on illegal traffic (UNEP/CHW/CC.16/4), the annex to the present note sets out a revised report on responses to question 1 (c) of the reporting format for 2019 setting out a revised classification of compliance performance in relation to the obligations set out in Article 9 of the Convention, using the legislator’s checklist and taking into account the feedback received from Parties, as well as conclusions and recommendations for the consideration of the Committee.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on illegal traffic (UNEP/CHW/CC.16/4), the annex to the present note sets out a draft report prepared by the Secretariat that reviews the texts of national legislation and other measures adopted by Parties to implement and enforce the Convention, their responses to question 1 (c) of the national reports for 2021, the outcome of Parties’ self review of their legislation and, using the checklist for the legislator, classifying Parties’ compliance performance in relation to the obligations set out in Article 9 of the Convention, and sets out conclusions and recommendations for the consideration of the Committee.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on annotations to the agenda (UNEP/CHW/CC.16/1/Add.2), the annex to the present note sets out a revised report prepared by the Secretariat that reviews the texts of national legislation and other measures adopted by Parties to implement and enforce the Convention, their responses to question 1 (c) of the national reports for 2021, the outcome of Parties’ self review of their legislation and, using the checklist for the legislator, classifying Parties’ compliance performance in relation to the obligations set out in Article 9 of the Convention, and sets out conclusions and recommendations for the consideration of the Committee. The revised report takes into account comments received from China, Guinea, Madagascar, Myanmar, Rwanda, Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia and Yemen, as available on the website of the Convention .

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. As mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on illegal traffic (UNEP/CHW/CC.16/4) and the note by the Secretariat on annotations to the agenda (UNEP/CHW/CC.16/1/Add.2), and as reflected in the report of the first part of its sixteenth meeting (paragraphs 35 to 32 of document UNEP/CHW/CC.16/11), the Committee convened on 23 June 2024 a dialogue with Basel Convention regional and coordinating centres on their activities aimed at supporting Parties in preventing and combating illegal traffic. The present note is intended to support the dialogue with relevant international organizations and cooperation with compliance bodies of other multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) on their activities aimed at supporting Parties in preventing and combating illegal traffic.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. By its decision BC-16/14, the Conference of the Parties at its sixteenth meeting adopted the work programme for the biennium 2024-2025 of the Committee administering the Mechanism for Promoting Implementation and Compliance, annexed to that decision, whereby it mandated the Committee, among other things, to undertake activities with the objective of improving implementation of and compliance with paragraph 4 of Article 4 and paragraph 5 of Article 9 of the Convention.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on national legislation (UNEP/CHW/CC.16/5), the annex to the present note sets out a report on Parties’ self-review of their legislation implementing the Basel Convention.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on national legislation (UNEP/CHW/CC.16/5), the annex to the present note sets out a report on activities of the Basel Convention regional centres and other entities aimed at assisting Parties develop legislation implementing the Basel Convention.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on national legislation (UNEP/CHW/CC.16/5), the annex to the present note sets out a report on activities of the Basel Convention regional centres and other entities aimed at assisting Parties develop legislation implementing the Basel Convention. The report was revised in advance of the dialogue to take into account additional submissions received from Basel Convention Regional Centres and other entities.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on national legislation (UNEP/CHW/CC.16/5), the annex to the present note sets out a report on the Parties that have not yet provided information to the Secretariat as to whether they have national legislation implementing the Convention or have indicated that they do not have such legislation.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. By its decision BC-16/14, the Conference of the Parties at its sixteenth meeting adopted the work programme for the biennium 20242025 of the Committee Administering the Mechanism for Promoting Implementation and Compliance, annexed to that decision, whereby it mandated the Committee, among other things, to undertake activities with the objective of Generally improve the implementation of and compliance with the Convention.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on review of guidance (UNEP/CHW/CC.16/6), the annex to the present note set out a draft updated version of the Guide to the Control System.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. By its decision BC-16/14, the Conference of the Parties at its sixteenth meeting adopted the work programme for the biennium 20242025 of the Committee Administering the Mechanism for Promoting Implementation and Compliance, annexed to that decision, whereby it mandated the Committee, among other things, to undertake activities with the objective of generally improving the implementation of, and compliance, with the Convention.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in the revised note by the Secretariat on review of guidance (UNEP/CHW/CC.16/6/Rev.1), the annex to the present note sets out a revised technically-updated version of the Guide to the Control System.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on review of guidance (UNEP/CHW/CC.16/6), the annex to the present note set out a draft updated version of the Manual for the Implementation of the Basel Convention.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in the revised note by the Secretariat on review of guidance (UNEP/CHW/CC.16/6/Rev.1), the annex to the present note sets out a revised technically-updated version of the Manual for the Implementation of the Basel Convention.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. During its fifteenth meeting (Geneva, 14–17 November 2022), the Committee considered the information in a note by the Secretariat on country contacts (UNEP/CHW/CC.15/6) following which it agreed, among others, to:

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. Pursuant to its mandate under its 2022–2023 work programme to explore the possibilities for enhancing coordination with the Compliance Committee of the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade, the fifteenth meeting of the Committee Administering the Mechanism for Promoting Implementation and Compliance (14–17 November 2022) was held back to back with the first meeting of the Rotterdam Convention Committee (16–18 November 2022) and included joint sessions between both Committees on issues of common interest.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. By its decision BC-16/14, the Conference of the Parties at its sixteenth meeting adopted the work programme for the biennium 20242025 of the Committee Administering the Mechanism for Promoting Implementation and Compliance, annexed to that decision, whereby it mandated the Committee, among other things, to provide guidance, including through consultation with the Open-ended Working Group, for consideration by the Conference of the Parties at its seventeenth meeting, on how individual Parties can integrate action to address their needs under the Basel Convention into their United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on Integration in United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks (UNEP/CHW/CC.16/9), the annex to the present note sets out guidance on how individual Parties can integrate action to address their needs under the Basel Convention into their United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework developed by the Secretariat.

Note by the Secretariat

As is mentioned in the note by the Secretariat on annotations to the agenda (UNEP/CHW/CC.16/1/Add.2), the annex to the present note sets out revisions to the guidance on how individual Parties can integrate action to address their needs under the Basel Convention into their United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework. The revisions take into account the outcome of the Committee’s deliberations during the first part of its sixteenth meeting as well as the comments received from six Parties (Argentina, Equatorial Guinea, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Mauritius, Myanmar and Saudi Arabia), and three observers (ACE Green Recycling, ECOPLAS and the Bhutan office of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)) . To facilitate the review of the revisions, these are identified with track-changes.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. In accordance with paragraph 24 of the terms of reference of the mechanism for promoting implementation and compliance of the Basel Convention, the Committee administering the mechanism (hereinafter “the Committee”) shall report to each ordinary meeting of the Conference of the Parties on its suggestions for any future work that may be required on general issues of compliance and implementation, for the consideration and approval of the Conference of the Parties. It is standing practice by the Committee to also include in its proposed work programme activities pertaining to specific submissions.

Note by the Secretariat

I. Introduction

1. In accordance with paragraph 24 of the terms of reference of the mechanism for promoting implementation and compliance of the Basel Convention, the Committee administering the mechanism (hereinafter “the Committee”) shall report to each ordinary meeting of the Conference of the Parties on its suggestions for any future work that may be required on general issues of compliance and implementation, for the consideration and approval of the Conference of the Parties. It is standing practice by the Committee to also include in its proposed work programme activities pertaining to specific submissions.

I. Opening of the meeting

1. The sixteenth meeting of the Committee Administering the Mechanism for Promoting Implementation and Compliance with the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal (‘the Committee’) was held from 23–24 June and 29 June–2 July 2024 in Geneva, Switzerland. Jason Dunn, Chair of the Committee, opened the meeting at 9 a.m. He welcomed members, the representatives of the fourteen Basel Convention Regional Centres (BCRCs) participating in the 23–24 June sessions of the meeting, and observers.

1. As stated in document UNEP/CHW/CC.16/11 on the report of the first part of the sixteenth meeting of the Basel Convention’s Implementation and Compliance Committee (23–24 June and 29 June–2 July 2024, Geneva), the Committee had suspended its sixteenth meeting at the end of the 2 July session, and had agreed to resume the meeting in online sessions, from 14 to 18 October 2024, to complete its work.

Note by the Secretariat

As mentioned in document UNEP/CHW/CC.16/1/Add.1, the annex to the present note contains a tentative schedule for the work of the Committee Administering the Mechanism for Promoting Implementation and Compliance at its sixteenth meeting. It is intended to assist members of the Committee in planning their work during the meeting, has been agreed by the officers of the Committee and will be adjusted as work progresses. The present note, including its annex, has not been formally edited.

Note by the Secretariat

As mentioned in document UNEP/CHW/CC.16/1/Add.1/Rev.1, the annex to the present note contains a tentative schedule for the work of the Committee Administering the Mechanism for Promoting Implementation and Compliance at the second part of its sixteenth meeting to be held online, from 14 to 18 October 2024. It is intended to assist members of the Committee in planning their work during the meeting, has been agreed by the officers of the Committee and will be adjusted as work progresses. The present note, including its annex, has not been formally edited.