Safe management of chemicals and hazardous waste to be discussed in Geneva

From 4 to 15 May 2015, Latvia as the country holding the Presidency of the Council of the European Union will represent the EU’s position at the meetings of the Conferences of the Parties (COPs)* to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions in Geneva, Switzerland. The theme of this year’s meetings is “From science to action, working for a safer tomorrow.

During the meetings, the participants plan to agree on the necessary measures to ensure safe management of chemicals and to promote the management and transportation of hazardous waste in an environmentally sound manner at international level.

During the Stockholm and Rotterdam COPs, the participants plan to agree on amendments to the convention annexes to include chemicals which have been recommended for such listing taking into account the chemical’s toxicity, its impact on the environment and human health, and its use. The Rotterdam Chemical Review Committee has suggested the inclusion of three new chemicals - harmful insecticides, liquid formations containing paraquat dichloride and chrysotile asbestos. The Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee has prepared decisions for listing hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD), chlorinated naphthalenes and pentachlorophenol. If the participants will reach an agreement, restrictions in application and registration of these chemicals will be set up at international level.

A discussion dedicated to the establishment of compliance mechanisms for the Stockholm and Rotterdam Conventions will take place, which are vital for ensuring an internationally coordinated approach to the commitments of Parties to these Conventions.

Basel Convention COP will consider adoption of two relevant documents:

Manual on hazardous waste inventory, take-back of illegal transboundary waste shipments, and the implementation of control system developed by the Implementation and Compliance Committee;

Technical guidelines on transboundary shipments of electrical and electronic waste and used electric and electronic equipment, and environmentally safe management of mercury and mercury waste.

The Conferences of the Parties to the Conventions take place every two years to assess the progress in the implementation of the Conventions and to agree on a plan for the next two years and the necessary funding. It is a forum that brings together also representatives from the industry, NGOs and several international organisations whose daily work is related to the issues of the management of chemicals and waste

*The twelfth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal (BC COP-12), the seventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention (RC COP-7) and the seventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention (SC COP-7).