Basel Convention

• It was adopted in 1989 by the Conference of Plenipotentiaries in Basel, Switzerland, the “Basel Convention on the Control of Trans-boundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal”, generally known as the Basel Convention, came into force in 1992.
• It is an international treaty that aims to reduce the movement of hazardous waste between countries.
• It particularly focuses on preventing transfer of hazardous waste from developed to less developed countries.
• It provides for cooperation between the parties, including exchange of information on issues relevant to the implementation of the Convention.
• It does not address the movement of radioactive waste.
• The Convention is also intended to minimize the amount and toxicity of wastes generated, to ensure their environmentally sound management and to assist LDCs in environmentally sound management of the hazardous and other wastes they generate.

The table below mentions the list of wastes that are regulated under the Basel Convention: