2019 Meetings of the Conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions
Clean Planet, Healthy People: Sound Management of Chemicals and Waste
29 April - 10 May 2019 | Geneva, Switzerland
Summary Highlights, 29 April - 10 May 2019
Highlights for Friday, 10 May 2019
The 2019 joint Conferences of the Parties (COP) to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions achieved several notable outcomes, including:
- the establishment of a compliance mechanism under the Rotterdam Convention on Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade
- the listing of dicofol and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), its salts, and PFOA-related compounds under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants; and
- the adoption of an amendment to address certain plastic wastes under the Basel Convention (BC) on the Control of Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal.
This last decision was welcomed with raucous cheers, as delegates celebrated the global agreement to take action on this pressing and complicated issue. Parties to the BC also adopted technical guidelines on environmentally sound management of electrical and electronic wastes (e-wastes). Key aspects of the e-waste issue remain, however, and an Expert Working Group will continue working to answer questions about the export of wastes for refurbishment—an issue that many characterize as a loophole that allows end-of-life products to be exported under the guise of “repairability.”
The Stockholm Convention COP also yielded significant developments, with decisions to end some of the exemptions for the continued production and use of certain industrial chemicals. These decisions were welcomed by many, who saw these as evidence that this “living” Convention is capable of effectively addressing substances that are economically important but pose significant risks to human health and the environment.
One of the most significant outcomes of the Rotterdam Convention COP9 was the decision to adopt a compliance mechanism. This challenging issue had been on the agenda of the Convention for 15 years, and while parties had come close to consensus at the last two meetings of the COP, they were unable to overcome the concerns of a small minority. When it became clear at this meeting that consensus would once again be blocked by a single party, delegates took the unprecedented step of voting to establish a new annex that would delineate procedures and mechanisms to facilitate parties’ implementation of their obligations.
Over 1700 delegates gathered in Geneva, Switzerland from 29 April-10 May 2019 for the fourteenth meeting of the COP to the Basel Convention, the ninth meeting of the COP to the Rotterdam Convention, and the ninth meeting of the COP to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). Negotiations in Geneva focused on Convention-specific issues as well as issues of joint concern to at least two of the three Conventions, including cooperation and coordination among the Conventions to address issues such as waste containing POPs.
IISD Reporting Services, through its Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) Meeting Coverage, provided daily web coverage, daily reports, and a summary and analysis report from the 2019 Meetings of the Conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions. The summary and analysis report is available in HTML and PDF.
Photos by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth
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Highlights for Thursday, 9 May 2019
Work continued apace on Thursday at the 2019 meetings of the Conferences of the Parties (COPs) to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm (BRS) Conventions. On the penultimate day of the meetings, delegates convened in plenary in the morning to look into issues of joint concern, as well as work related to the Rotterdam Convention (RC). They addressed several matters related to the implementation of the RC, including by adopting decisions that seek to ensure the provision of technical assistance and increase the number of parties that submit notifications of final regulatory action on chemicals.
With several significant issues as yet unresolved, plenary was suspended after the morning session to allow delegates to work in contact groups and carry out informal consultations in order to find common ground. The critical issues that remain include plastic wastes, and electronic and electrical wastes (e-wastes) under the Basel Convention, the listing of four chemicals under the Rotterdam Convention’s Prior Informed Consent procedure, and – crucially – a budget to fund the work that will be carried out in 2020-2021 to implement all three Conventions. With many participants emphasizing that the outstanding agenda items are essential to meaningful action and effective implementation, delegates anticipated a late night of intense negotiations on Thursday.
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Highlights for Wednesday, 8 May 2019
On the ninth day of the 2019 meetings of the Conferences of the Parties (COPs) to the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm (BRS) Conventions, delegates convened in plenary to address two significant agenda items under the Rotterdam Convention: compliance and listing of chemicals in Annex III.
After 15 years of negotiations to define and establish procedures and a mechanism to support compliance with the provisions of the Rotterdam Convention, there was widespread support for the creation of a non-punitive mechanism that would facilitate parties’ implementation of their obligations. Parties came close to achieving consensus at the last two meetings, and at COP9, only one party continued to block agreement. When it became clear that consensus would not be possible, parties took the unprecedented and historic step of voting to create a new Annex to the Convention which sets out procedures and mechanisms to facilitate compliance. This new mechanism will assist parties to identify and address gaps in complying with the Convention, with the aim of ensuring that governments have the information they need about hazardous chemicals to assess the risks and take informed decisions when importing chemicals.
In the afternoon, the COP turned to some of the core work of the Rotterdam Convention: the Chemical Review Committee’s recommendations to list chemicals in Annex III. The Committee has recommended listing two severely hazardous pesticide formulations (SHPFs) - fenthion and paraquat - as well as the chemicals acetochlor, hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD), phorate, carbosulfan, and chrysotile asbestos. Listing chemicals under the Rotterdam Convention does not constitute a ban, but subjects them to the prior informed consent procedure between exporting and importing countries. Agreement to list HBCD and phorate was swift. Discussions on acetochlor, carbosulfan, paraquat, fenthion and chrysotile asbestos were more difficult, however, with many delegates objecting to listing chemicals that are widely used in their countries. The different views on chrysotile asbestos, which has been on the COP’s agenda since 2006, once again proved to be insurmountable; the issue will be forwarded to COP10 for further discussion.
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Highlights for Tuesday, 7 May 2019
Tuesday’s agenda at the 2019 meetings of the Conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Convention (BRS COPs) was full, with delegates meeting in plenary to address a wide range of issues related to either the Basel or Rotterdam Conventions.
In the morning, delegates dealt with initial discussions of two challenging and related issues under the Rotterdam Convention: non-compliance and evaluating the effectiveness of this Convention. While Article 17 of the Convention requires parties to develop and approve procedures and mechanisms for determining non-compliance “as soon as is practicable,” to date, consensus on this issue has been elusive. Previous meetings of the COPs have come close to agreement, and there is widespread support for creating a facilitative, non-punitive mechanism that will promote parties’ work to implement the Convention. However, exactly what this mechanism will look like is still subject to debate. For now, this discussion will take place in a newly-created Friends of the President group which will report back to plenary on Wednesday.
Debates on effectiveness evaluation were equally challenging, with delegates discussing proposed amendments to the Convention that would, respectively, change decision-making rules to allow for voting, and mandate provision of financial and technical assistance for developing countries. The former amendment is designed to address a growing problem for the Convention: chemicals for which the COP has agreed all listing criteria are met, but consensus to list them in Annex III has not been reached. To date, four chemicals fall into this category, and demand is growing among delegates keen to ensure that the Rotterdam Convention is able to meet its objective to serve as a mechanism for information exchange. A contact group to tackle this and other aspects of effectiveness met throughout the day, and will report to plenary on Wednesday.
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Highlights for Monday, 6 May 2019
On Monday, delegates to the 2019 meetings of the Conferences of the Parties (COP) to the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm (BRS) Conventions convened for the second week and continued work related to implementation of the Basel Convention. Participants made swift progress through many of the outstanding items of the agenda, adopting decisions on, inter alia, technical guidelines on environmentally sound management (ESM) of waste lead-acid batteries and wastes consisting of, containing, or contaminated with mercury or mercury compounds.
Contact groups met throughout the day on strategic matters, technical matters, plastics, compliance and legal issues, and budget. In the plastics group, participants considered, among other issues, proposed language to amend Annexes II, VIII, and IX, and sought to clarify and define key terms such as “mixed wastes.” The group on strategic matters completed its mandate on the follow-up to the Partnership for Action on Computing Equipment, and will present its outcomes to plenary on Tuesday. In the technical matters contact group, discussions continued on proposed cooperation with the World Customs Organization on the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System, with many participants calling for plastic waste to be included in the System.
As delegates closed in on the end of Basel Convention COP14, many commented on how efficiently the work has been carried out so far under both the Stockholm and Basel Conventions. While a few challenging issues remain, most discussions have been characterized by deliberate movement toward consensus. Several have expressed hope that this approach will continue when delegates turn their attention to the Rotterdam Convention on Tuesday morning.
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Highlights for Saturday, 4 May 2019
The 2019 meetings of the Conferences of the Parties (COP) to the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm (BRS) Conventions wrapped up the first week with discussions of several waste issues, with extensive time both in plenary and a contact group devoted to work on marine plastic litter and microplastics.
Morning plenary was dominated by interventions on this complex and highly salient issue, with over 80 delegates waiting to share their views. Behind the statements, a clear division began to emerge on whether transboundary movement of plastics for recycling is a “problem” or a “solution,” given the varied capacities of countries to manage the volume of plastics and the growing amount of plastics that are of low value and therefore difficult to sell for recycling, or recycle in general.
With widespread support for the Basel Convention to be part of the global effort, delegates discussed possible ways of addressing the issue. Norway presented its proposal, which includes different measures for different types of plastic waste, namely: clean, sorted plastic waste; hazardous plastic waste; and non-hazardous, unsorted, mixed and other plastic waste. One measure discussed at length was the prior informed consent procedure, which would provide information to countries importing plastic waste. Some were concerned that such an additional requirement could impede the ability to send wastes for recycling as a key part of the circular economy.
In the afternoon, the Basel Convention discussed another mechanism increasingly at its disposal: partnerships. With multi-stakeholder partnerships in place to share information and catalyze action on computing equipment, household waste, and, perhaps soon, plastics, many delegates cited such partnerships as a key area of work for the Convention. Delegates also discussed nanomaterials, an emerging waste issue with significant data gaps.
In the evening, delegates gathered for a reception sponsored by the Government of Switzerland to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Basel Convention.
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Highlights for Friday, 3 May 2019
Delegates to the 2019 meetings of the Conferences of the Parties (COP) to the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm (BRS) Conventions worked through a packed agenda on Friday, as they resumed work under the Basel Convention, sought to conclude the work of the Stockholm Convention, and addressed some of the outstanding issues of joint concern to at least two of the three Conventions.
In the morning, participants discussed work undertaken intersessionally by expert working groups, including on the development of guidelines for environmentally sound management and work on technical guidelines on: e-waste; incineration on land and specially engineered landfill; and waste lead-acid batteries. While this technical work was welcomed by delegates, some non-governmental organizations called for additional work to close loopholes and otherwise strengthen guidelines to promote best environmental practices.
Stockholm Convention COP9 convened in the afternoon and took a series of decisions, including one that reduces the number of exemptions and acceptable purposes for continued production and use of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), its salts, and perfluorooctane sulfonyl fluoride (PFOSF). Delegates also adopted a decision to list perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), its salts and PFOA-related compounds in Annex A (elimination) of the Convention. Notably, COP9 agreed to a request for additional exemptions for continued production and use. Several delegates were disappointed by the agreement to allow these exemptions, which had not been recommended by the POPs Review Committee. One industry observer emphasized that the substances are being phased out in large parts of the world and are not necessary, and several civil society organizations highlighted the negative impact of PFOA on human health and the environment. More broadly, several worried that introduction of exemption requests at the COP undermines the science-based review process of the Convention.
With those decisions, Stockholm Convention COP9 was suspended until Friday, 10 May, when it will reopen for adoption of a decision on the budget and programme of work, as well as other outstanding issues. Basel Convention COP14 will resume on Saturday.
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Highlights for Thursday, 2 May 2019
On Thursday, delegates worked on a range of issues related to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), including releases of POPs from unintentional production, implementation plans, and a proposal by the Russian Federation to amend the Convention. During discussion of the proposed amendment, many delegates underscored the thoroughness of the POPs Review Committee’s (POPRC) evaluation process, and others highlighted the importance of the precautionary principle in achieving the Convention’s objective to protect human health and the environment from adverse effects caused by exposure to POPs.
In the afternoon, delegates adopted three decisions. One, on measures to reduce or eliminate releases of POPs from wastes, encourages parties to the Stockholm Convention to accelerate their efforts to ensure the sound management of POP stockpiles and wastes.
Another, on specific exemptions, acceptable purposes and other exemptions for continued production and use of listed POPs, confirms that no new registrations may be made for:
- lindane for use as a human-health pharmaceutical in the control of head lice and scabies; and
- perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), its salts and perfluorooctane sulfonyl fluoride (PFOSF) for: photo masks, metal plating, electric and electronic parts for some color printers and photocopiers, insecticides for control of red imported fire ants and termites, and chemically-driven oil production.
Delegates also adopted a decision which specifies continuation of work to implement the global monitoring plan for evaluating the effectiveness of the Convention. In related discussions, delegates drew connections between POPs and marine plastics, adding the Convention’s voice to several others calling for urgent action on plastic pollution in the marine environment.
Contact groups met throughout the day to work on issues including listing of chemicals under the Stockholm Convention, technical assistance and financial resources, issues of joint concern to at least two of the three Conventions, and programme of work and budget.
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Highlights for Wednesday, 1 May 2019
On Wednesday, delegates gathered for the third day of the meetings of the Conferences of Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm (BRS) Conventions. In the morning, participants continued their work on issues of joint concern, including mainstreaming gender and strengthening synergies among the Conventions to combat illegal trade and traffic in hazardous chemicals and wastes.
In the afternoon, delegates turned their attention to two persistent organic pollutants (POPs) that were among the first twelve to be listed under the Stockholm Convention when it entered into force in 2004: DDT and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).
In a lengthy consideration of DDT, delegates revisited a longstanding debate about the need for the continued use of this insecticide for disease vector control. Many delegates highlighted the availability of affordable alternatives, while others emphasized the need to protect ongoing access to what they characterized as a readily available and inexpensive tool for combating malaria.
With Stockholm Convention targets for PCB phase out (2025) and elimination (2028) looming, delegates discussed the lack of information on remaining stockpiles and equipment containing PCBs. One delegate stressed that the “deadline is practically tomorrow and we’re still working on inventories.” Amidst many calls for accelerated action, the COP adopted a decision that urges parties to “step up their efforts” to eliminate the use of PCBs.
Contact groups convened throughout the day on a range of issues. The group working on listing of chemicals under the Stockholm Convention made significant progress in determining how to account for the ‘related compounds’ in the proposed listing of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), its salts, and related compounds. Discussions on low-POP content values continued in the Basel Convention’s Technical Matters group, and in the Joint Issues group, participants considered issues related to illegal traffic and trade in hazardous chemicals and wastes. Several issues related to technical assistance and financial resources, were discussed in a contact group, including guidance to the Global Environment Facility (GEF) on marine plastic litter as it relates to the Stockholm Convention, with some calling for a broader focus on all plastic litter.
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Highlights for Tuesday, 30 April 2019
On Tuesday, delegates to the 2019 meetings of the Conferences of the Parties (COP) to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm (BRS) Conventions devoted most of the day to issues of concern to two or more of the Conventions, including international cooperation and coordination, financial resources, and programme of work and budget. In the late afternoon, they turned their attention to Stockholm Convention-specific work, including listing of chemicals.
In the joint sessions of the three COPs, participants spent significant time on an initial exchange of views on compliance under the Rotterdam Convention, a long-standing issue which has narrowly eluded consensus in recent years. Many emphasized the need for progress toward establishment of a compliance mechanism at this meeting, building on past support for a facilitative, non-punitive approach.
In the late afternoon, delegates discussed the Stockholm Convention’s evaluation of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, its salts, and perfluorooctane sulfonyl fluoride (PFOS, its salts, and PFOSF). Under this item, most delegates supported the recommendation of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee to eliminate several acceptable purposes and specific exemptions for continued production and use of this industrial chemical.
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Highlights for Monday, 29 April 2019
The fourteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Basel Convention (BC COP14), the ninth meeting of the COP to the Rotterdam Convention (RC COP9), and the ninth meeting of the COP to the Stockholm Convention (SC COP9) opened in Geneva, Switzerland. Meeting jointly in plenary in the morning and early afternoon, the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm (BRS) COPs adopted the agendas and organization of work for each COP, and initiated discussions on technical assistance and financial resources under the Basel and Rotterdam Conventions, and financial resources and mechanisms under the Stockholm Convention.
Regional groups used their opening statements to call for urgent action on emerging issues, such as marine plastic litter and microplastics, as well as longstanding challenges ranging from management of legacy persistent organic pollutants (POPs) to the establishment of compliance mechanisms under the Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions. In the discussion of technical assistance, many delegates underscored the importance of regional centres in supporting parties’ implementation of the Basel and Stockholm Conventions through capacity building. Several called for additional resources to deal with issues such as existing and new POPs, marine litter, and plastic waste, and noted that technical assistance is closely linked to compliance.
In the afternoon, the Stockholm Convention COP convened to begin discussions of listing of chemicals in Annex A (elimination), B (reduction) and/or C (unintentional releases). After brief discussions, delegates decided to list the pesticide dicofol in Annex A of the Convention with no exemptions for continued production or use. Delegates then considered the POPs Review Committee’s recommendation to list perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in Annex A or B, and agreed to establish a contact group for further work on this issue.
As the first day of the Triple COPs drew to a close, delegates celebrated what many characterized as an unexpectedly quick decision on dicofol, but also noted issues that were likely to be more challenging. Several pointed to the Rotterdam Convention's compliance mechanism and listing PFOA in the Stockholm Convention as particularly tricky, with several highlighting the need for technical assistance and financial resources to support parties’ work to implement the Conventions.
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Resources for the 2019 Meetings of the Conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions
- Website for the 2019 Meetings of the Conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions
- Tentative Schedule of Work for the 2019 Meetings of the Conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions
- Documents for the 2019 Meetings of the Conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions
IISD ENB/ENB+ Meeting Coverage
- 14th Meeting of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee (POPRC-14) to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), 17-21 September 2018, Headquarters of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Rome, Italy
- 14th Meeting of the Chemical Review Committee (CRC-14) of the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade, 11-14 September 2018, FAO Headquarters, Rome, Italy
- 11th Meeting of the Open-Ended Working Group of the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal (OEWG11), 3-6 September 2018, Geneva, Switzerland
- 2017 Meetings of the Conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions, 24 April - 5 May 2017, Geneva, Switzerland
- 2015 Meetings of the Conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions, 4-16 May 2015, Geneva, Switzerland
- 2013 Meetings of the Conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions and 2nd Simultaneous Extraordinary Meetings of the Three Conferences of the Parties to the Three Conventions (ExCOPs2), 28 April - 10 May 2013, Geneva, Switzerland
- ExCOPs-1 and 11h Special Session of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum (GCSS-11/GMEF), 22-26 February 2010, Bali, Indonesia
IISD Resources
- CHEMICALS-L - A News and Announcement List on Chemicals and Wastes News and Policy Developments
- SDG - A Mailing List for News on Sustainable Development Policy
- SDG Update Newsletter - A compilation of news, commentary and upcoming events published on the SDG Knowledge Hub
- SDG Knowledge Hub - An Online Resource Center for News and Commentary Regarding the Implementation of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including all 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- Linkages Update - International Environment and Sustainable Development News