The Stockholm

and Basel Conventions:

Integrated implementation with the Rotterdam Convention

MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION COMMAND

Purpose of the Presentation
• Introduce the Basel and
Stockholm Conventions
• Highlight how they relate to the
Rotterdam Convention, and
• Identify opportunities for
integrated implementation
 Structure of the
Presentation
• Objectives of the Conventions
• Scope-Coverage
• Key provisions of the Conventions
• Present status
• Integrated implementation
 Stockholm Convention
OBJECTIVE
• To protect human health and the
environment from the harmful
impacts of persistent organic
pollutants (POPs)

HOW
– eliminate production and use of
intentionally produced POPs
– minimize and where feasible
eliminate releases of
unintentionally produced POPs
Cont…
– clean-up old stock piles and
Equipment containing POPs
– support the transition to safer
alternatives
– target additional POPs for action
 Stockholm Convention
SCOPE/COVERAGE
a)12 chemicals
• Pesticides
– aldrin, chlordane, DDT, dieldrin, endrin,
heptachlor, mirex, toxaphene, hexachlorobenzene

• Industrial Chemicals
– hexachlorobenzene, PCBs

• Unintended byproducts
– chlorinated dioxins, chlorinated furans
 Stockholm Convention
SCOPE/COVERAGE
b) Clean up Stockpiles and Equipment
• Governments to identify stockpiles, products and
articles containing POPs

• Stockpiles and wastes to be managed in a safe

efficient and environmentally friendly manner

• POPs content must be destroyed

 Stockholm Convention
TRANSITION TO SAFER ALTERNATIVES
• DDT is permitted for disease vector control until
locally safe, effective and affordable alternatives are
available
• PCBs – governments allowed until 2025 to phase
out ‘in-place’ equipment
• Country specific exemptions for certain pesticides
• Improve ability to minimize release of byproducts
(dioxins, furans, HCB, PCBs)
 Stockholm Convention
CRITERIA FOR NEW POPS
• Add new chemicals following consideration by an
expert body
• Criteria include
– persistence, bio-accumulation, toxicity,
– potential for long-range environmental
transport
 Stockholm Convention
ASSESSMENT OF NEW POPS
• Screening criteria are assessed by a POPs
Review Committee
• If the criteria are satisfied, information is
gathered to prepare a risk profile
• Lack of full scientific certainty shall not prevent a
proposal for global action on a chemical
 Stockholm Convention
SUPPORT FOR IMPLEMENTATION
Detailed guidance is available including:
• Developing a national implementation plan (NIP) for
the Stockholm Convention
• Reducing and Eliminating the use of POPs
• Action Plan for the Reduction of Reliance on DDT in
Disease Vector Control
• Framework for the Management of PCBs
 Stockholm Convention
STATUS
Entered into force 17 May 2004

• 156 Parties as of June 2008

• COP 2, 1-5 May 2006, Geneva
• COP 3, 30 April-4 May 2007,Senegal
• COP 4, May 2009
Website: www.pops.int
 Basel Convention
OBJECTIVE
• Reduce transboundary movement of
hazardous wastes to a minimum
consistent with their environmentally
sound management
• Dispose of hazardous wastes as close
as possible to their source of generation
• Minimize generation of hazardous
wastes in terms of quantity and degree
of hazard.
 Basel Convention
SCOPE-COVERAGE
• Hazardous wastes (specified in Annex I)
– Explosive
– Flammable
– Poisonous
– Infectious
– Corrosive
– Toxic
– Ecotoxic
 Basel Convention
KEY PROVISIONS
• A procedure for the notification of transboundary
movements of hazardous wastes or other
wastes, based upon a prior written consent
procedure
• Each shipment needs a movement document
from the point of transboundary movement to
the point of disposal
 Basel Convention
KEY PROVISIONS
• Transboundary movement only among parties

• Export is prohibited if
– The state of import has an import ban, OR
– The state of import has not given its consent to the
import
 Basel Convention
SUPPORT FOR IMPLEMENTATION
• Manual and guidelines
– Model legislation on control and management of
hazardous wastes
– Implementation manual
– Instruction manual on the control system
– Technical Guidelines

• Basel Convention Regional Centres

 Basel Convention
Entered into force May 1992
• 170 Parties as of June 2008
• Subsequent amendments have yet to
enter into force

Website: www.basel.int
 Rotterdam Convention
Entered into force February
2004
• 120 Parties as of June
2008

Website: www.pic.int
 Areas for integrated
implementation
1. Framework for lifecycle management
2. Chemicals covered
3. Regulatory infrastructure
4. Import/export control
5. Waste management
6. Hazard communication
 1. Framework for Lifecycle
Management
• Together the three conventions cover the
key elements of the life cycle management
of hazardous chemicals:
– SC sets out specific criteria for identifying POPs that are
to be incorporated into national assessment schemes –
should lead to national regulatory action
– RC candidate chemicals are those that are banned or
severely restricted or refused first time approval for
health or environmental reasons
1. Framework for Lifecycle
Management
Rotterdam Convention
• is a first line of defence against future POPs
• gives countries an early opportunity to consider
alternatives
• PIC procedure should assist in avoiding an
accumulation of unwanted stockpiles
 1. Framework for Lifecycle
Management
Stockholm Convention
• eliminate production and use of POPs chemicals
• restricts the import and export of POPs to cases
where the purpose is the environmentally sound
disposal
• reduce or eliminate releases of POPs working on
BAT/BEP guidelines
1. Framework for Lifecycle
Management

Basel Convention
• can assist in managing disposal of unwanted
stockpiles
• technical working group is developing guidelines
on management of POPs wastes
 2. Chemicals Covered
• 8 of the 10 intentionally produced POPs
are subject to the Rotterdam Convention
• anticipate that in future intentionally
produced POPs in the Stockholm
Convention will be first included in the RC
• as wastes all chemicals will be subject to
the Basel Convention
3. Regulatory infrastructure
• Countries can use the experience gained
during ratification of the Basel Convention
for Stockholm and Rotterdam
• Guidance to developing National
Implementation Plans (NIPs) adopted at
Stockholm Convention COP.1 includes
references to integration with the
Rotterdam Convention
3. Regulatory infrastructure

• National chemicals legislation – all three

Conventions involve a review of existing
legal or administrative infrastructure
– Utilize Rotterdam Legal Guide in reviewing
legislation
 4. Import/Export Controls
• All three Conventions provide mechanisms
to restrict imports and obligations on
exports.
– Import restrictions under Rotterdam may help
prevent stockpiles and wastes accumulating
• Customs officials should be trained on
Convention requirements in a coordinated
manner, addressing all three Convention’s
• Conventions may facilitate monitoring of
movement of hazardous chemicals
4. Import/Export Controls

• Secretariats of the three Conventions are

working together to ensure a coordinated
approach to training customs authorities on the
requirements of the Conventions
– in association with UNEP Green Customs initiative
and the World Customs Organization
 5. Waste Management
• Movement of wastes under Basel
Convention
– Rotterdam and Stockholm may help to prevent
accumulation of stockpiles
• Basel Convention is developing technical
guidelines for PCB, dioxins, furans and
other hazardous wastes
– These will be taken up by Stockholm Convention
 6. Hazard Communication
• All three Conventions have mechanisms for
hazard communication
• National focal points for the Conventions
should share information to ensure
awareness among relevant authorities
• Close cooperation between focal points and
regulators will assist in an integrated
approach
– such cooperation may assist in coordinated
implementation, as common issues can be
considered together
 Synergies process among the Basel
Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions
Decisions of the 3 COPs

• Establish the Joint ad Hoc Working

Group on enhancing cooperation and
coordination among the Conventions
– 15 representatives from each
Convention (3 per UN region)
– First meeting March 2007, Helsinki
Finland
– Second meeting December 2007,
Vienna, Austria
– Final meeting March 2008 – Rome,
Italy
Any questions?

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 References
• www.pic.int
• www.Wikipedia.com
• www.google.com

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