MARCH 3, 2015 4.

Hexachlorobenzane (Insdustrial chemicals)

5. Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (by-products)
1. WHAT IS BASEL CONVENTION? (WASTE)  5 ESSENTIAL AIMS:
 BASEL CONVENTION ON THE CONTROL OF 1. Eliminate dangerous POPs, starting with the 12
TRANSBOUNDARY MOVEMENTS OF HAZARDOUZ worst
WASTES AND THEIR DISPOSAL 2. Support the transition to safer alternatives
 An international treaty that was designed to reduce the 3. Target additional POPs for action
movements of hazardous wastes between nations and 4. Cleanup old stockpiles and equipment containing
prevent transfer of hazardous waste from developed to POPs
less developed countries 5. Work together for POPs-free future
 OBJECTIVE
o To protect human health and the
environment against the adverse effects of
hazardous wastes
o Its scope of application covers a wide range
of wastes defined as “hazardous wastes”
based on their origin and/or composition and
their characteristics, as well as 2 types of
wastes defined as other wastes – household
waste and incinerator ash
 AIMS AND PROVISIONS
1. Reduction of hazardous waste generation
and the promotion of environmentally sound
management of hazardous wastes, wherever
the place of disposal
2. The restriction of transboundary movements
of hazardous wastes except where it is
perceived to be in accordance with the
principles of environmentally sound
management; and
3. A regulatory system applying to cases where
transboundary movements are permissible

2. ROTTERDAM CONVENTION (CHEMICALS)

 ROTTERDAM CONVENTION ON THE PRIOR
INFORMED CONSENT FOR CERTAIN HAZARDOUS
CHEMICALS AND PESTICIDES IN INTERNATIONAL
TRADE
 PRIOR INFORMED CONSENT
o Under the convention, a chemical listed in the
convention may only be exported with the
IMPORTER’S prior consent
o The convention establishes a procedure to
disseminate the decisions taken by the
importing countries, thus implementing the
PIC principles in international trade in
chemicals
o PRODUCTS CONCERNED:
 Banned or severely restricted
chemicals and to extremely
hazardous pesticide formulations
 Examples:
1. Aldrin (Pesticide)
2. Chlorobenzilate (Pesticide)
3. Ethylene Oxide (Pesticide)
4. Mercury compunds (pesticide)
 Where did you encounter PIC in our previous
discussion?
o Convention of biodiversity = ABS mainly
ACCESS (?)

3. WHAT IS THE STOCKHOLM CONVENTION?

 Global treaty to protect human health and the
environment from persistent organic pollutants (POP)
 POPs are chemicals that remain intact in the
environment for long periods, become widely
distributed geographically, accumulate in the fatty
tissue of living organisms and are toxic to humans and
wildlife
 Examples of POPs:
1. Aldrin (pesticide)
2. Chlordane (pesticide)
3. DDT (pesticide)

© Michelle Duguil