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Commonality of Implementation



This section of the Handbook provides information on the common aspects of implementing the five chemical Conventions.


GoTo   Commonalities in Implementing the Chemical Conventions in Developing Countries and Countries with Economies in Transition
GoTo   Institutional Requirements
GoTo   Legal Requirements
GoTo   Monitoring and Enforcement Requirements
GoTo   Capacity Building Through Training, Information Management and Sharing
GoTo   Environmentally Sound Management of Hazardous Waste and Toxic Chemicals





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Commonalities in Implementing Chemical Conventions in Developing Countries and Countries with Economies in Transition


Combined, the chemical Conventions have the potential to effectively incorporate all aspects of environmentally sound chemical management. An integrated approach to their implementation will ensure that the priority issues of international trade in toxic chemicals and pesticides; transport of hazardous waste; the reduction and eventual elimination of releases, use and production of persistent organic pollutants; the environmentally sound remediation of waste stockpiles and the identification of contaminated sites will be addressed. Most importantly, combined the Conventions will help avoid chemical management problems in the future.

In recognition of both the benefits of implementation of the chemical conventions and the challenges faced in developing countries and countries with economies in transition, the

Secretariats and COPs have undertaken a range of activities to enhance coordination and access to resources. Training and technology transfer has been a key focus of the Basel and Stockholm Conventions. The establishment of Regional and Coordinating Centres in key locations across the globe to assist with capacity building is a key building block of these Conventions. The stepwise approach to adopting Conventions (described in Relationships Between Conventions/National Synergies) allows developing countries and countries with economies in transition to access the resources to these regional centres as they become parties to Stockholm and Basel.

In Pacific countries SPREP has taken an active role in supporting coordination and synergies between the Convention's implementation.

As a result, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and SPREP in order to make the best use of the expertise available within the Secretariat of the Basel Convention. The approach taken develops coordination and synergies of cooperation between both Secretariats, particularly in the fields of:

  • information and clearinghouse mechanisms,
  • joint training material and activities,
  • joint programs, and
  • cooperation in fundraising.

    The MOU has facilitated the adaptation of existing Basel Convention documents and tools to meet the needs of the Waigani Convention. These include:

  • model national legislation,
  • movement document,
  • notification document,
  • technical guidelines,
  • annual reporting form, and
  • characterisation of hazardous waste.

    African countries have enhanced their ability to meet the objectives of the Bamako Convention by entering into cooperative ventures with NGOs and other institutions to implement such projects as African Stockpiles Programme (ASP). The ASP is a major project to identify and render safe the large stockpiles of obsolete and dangerous pesticides still present in African countries. The programme is designed to deliver practical and environmentally sound solutions to dangerous and technically complex problems and prevent recurrence of similar problems in the future.

    The ASP is intended to provide financial and technical resources at ground level to African countries to eradicate their stockpiles of obsolete pesticides. This country-driven programme is intended to support the objectives of the chemical Conventions. Country eligibility for disposal or prevention projects, for example, will take into account whether countries have ratified or acceded to agreements such as the Stockholm, Basel, Bamako and Rotterdam Conventions.

    Africa and West Asia now have four of the 14 Basel Regional and Coordinating Centres (BRCRs) to enhance technical transfer and training related to the implementation of the chemical conventions. These are the;

    Basel Convention Regional Centre for the Arab States (Cairo)

    Basel Convention Co-ordinating Centre for the African Region (Ibadan)

    Basel Convention Regional Centre for French-speaking countries in Africa (Dakar)

    Basel Convention Regional Centre for English-speaking African countries (Pretoria)

    More documents and information (including contact details) on the BCRC's for Africa can be found in the Resources section of the Bamako Convention and the Basel Convention.

    For Pacific Island countries choosing to become a party to both the Waigani and Basel Conventions, assistance in legal, technical and information matters is available, underpinned by financial support.

    Similarly, for those countries choosing to become a party to the Stockholm Convention, financial and technical support is available to develop effective national implementation plans and more generally, environmentally sound management of chemicals.

    There are many commonalities in the implementation of the five Conventions. The following activity plan identifies some of the opportunities for effective coordination and synergy in four main areas:

  • legal and institutional requirements
  • enforcement and monitoring requirements
  • capacity building and information exchange
  • environmentally sound management of chemicals and hazardous waste.




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    Institutional Requirements

    Item Activity Relevance to Conventions Regional Opportunities
    Assessment of a country's capacities for implementation, compliance and enforcement. - Identify appropriate institutional infrastructure and capacity
    - Establish partnerships between agencies, department and committees
    - Identify resources and personnel requirements     		This assessment could review overall capacity in chemical management and implementation of the 4 conventions.

    The partnerships established provide opportunities for improved coordination of staff and resources.    		  
    Collaboration of countries with SPREP and the three Secretariats to address countries' needs and capacity. - Identify and coordinate activities for the 4 conventions; eg joint training and materials, clearing house activities, consultation and awareness raising programs.
    - Identify suitable joint programs through the regional technology transfer centres (Indonesia & China) and the GEF
    - Adapt existing Basel tools and mechanisms for use by the Waigani parties.
    - Develop opportunities for ongoing input from NGOs     		Addressing the institutional needs for the 4 conventions benefits from the active involvement of the convention Secretariats as well as the support of others eg UNITAR and GEF. Design and delivery of capacity building assistance needs to be coordinated through SPREP to ensure all have access. SPREP also coordinate and support regional participation at COPs & technical meetings by providing pre-meeting briefings and assist in developing position papers.



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    Legal Requirements

    Item Activity Relevance to Conventions Regional Opportunities
    Review of existing legislation to determine whether to take an individual convention approach or integrate into one piece of chemical management legislation - Identify national or external legal experts
    - Identify weaknesses and needs of current legislation
    - Prepare and recommend options    		 Legislation is needed to fulfil the obligations of the four conventions. WC requires parties to develop laws & administrative procedures. BC requires countries to enforce transport, import and export obligations. RC requires countries to implement appropriate legislative or administrative measures. SC requires countries to take action to prohibit and restrict production and use of certain chemicals. SPREP to assist countries in their assessment
    Development of appropriate legislation based on the existing Basel model, or adaptation of existing legislation, or development of integrated Act, for the four conventions - For Countries with existing legislation, amend the legislation, if necessary.
    - For Countries without any existing legislation, adapt the BC model or fully integrated model
    - As part of development or amendment of legislation, undertake stakeholder consultation program
    - Enact legislation/ amendments    		 The development of an integrated legislation model could assist in implementing the four conventions and provide a wholistic framework for both implementation and environmentally sound chemical management.  
    Suggestions for specific workshops on legislation & awareness-raising programs. - Involve relevant stakeholders, eg decision-makers, public, NGOs, Industry / private sector, in the workshops. Workshops on legislation and awareness-raising could be coordinated and information on the four conventions, their rationale and their legislative needs provided. Coordination at regional level would make this even more cost effective and provide better access to the range of expertise and through use of the BCRCs.
    Training of legal officers on environment & waste issues - Identity needs
    - Train and develop kits on environmental & legal matters.     		Training of legal officers for all conventions could be provided simultaneously. Regional training & kit development would be optimal.



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    Monitoring and Enforcement Requirements

    Item Activity Relevance to Conventions Regional Opportunities
    The Control System - Identify resources and personnel requirements
    - Identify essential components of a control system and its set up
    - Compare the benefits and costs of regional versus national control systems
    - Identify capacity building needs    		 Designing a coordinated control system for all conventions would be both cost effective and efficient. A coordinated regional control system would provide ease of monitoring & enforcements by harmonizing methodology, documentation and control approaches.
    Training & Personnel - Identification of personnel requirements
    - Identify minimum requirements for the setting up of a monitoring and enforcement system
    - Analyse costs & benefits of regionalisation of systems versus in-country
    - Assess capacity building needs    		 Monitoring and enforcement will be more efficient if they are designed to address the needs of the 5 conventions in a coordinated way. A coordinated regional monitoring and enforcement system would lead to costs savings.
    Education of private & public sectors - Develop information material to highlight the need for dealing with hazardous chemicals & waste
    - Use material to educate & involve the public for ownership & enforcement     		Information material will be most effective if it deals with the problem of waste & hazardous chemicals as a whole. SPREP assist PIC countries to source and/or develop educational materials
    BCRC to act as a focal point for development of public awareness materials and advice.
    Information systems & exchange - Identify & assess information needs
    - Assess access to UN material, eg PIC decision guidance documents & UNEP/GEF technical documents
    - Identify regional information sources, eg UNU    		 A consolidated information system that could serve the needs of the 4 conventions would promote sound chemical management as well. Regional Centres to facilitate the development of a regional information repository for the Pacific, Africa, Asia and other regions with developing countries and countries in economic transition.
    Assistance from Convention Secretariats - Identify resources & assistance needed All Convention Secretariats provide information as well as technical advice SPREP coordinate assistance in Pacific and AU (Bamako Secretariat) provides similar for Africa.
    Compliance and enforcement strategy to indicate priorities, needs, barriers & partnerships - Develop a cooperative compliance & enforcement strategy framework for the Region
    - Countries further develop regional strategy to reflect their priorities    		 All 5 conventions require some form of compliance & an overall enforcement strategy framework would assist in coordination across departments & countries. SPREP & BRCRs coordinate the regional strategy for compliance & enforcement in the Pacific region and Africa.t
    Investigation of illegal trafficking and/or illegal use - Establish role of customs and other agencies
    - Preparation of working arrangements, eg MOU, working group/ taskforce    		 The role of customs is essential for all 5 conventions, as they all incorporate import & export obligations Regional training for customs services could benefit from experience of developed countries



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    Capacity Building Through Training, Information Management and Sharing

    Item Activity Relevance to Conventions Regional Opportunities
    Training - Identify and address training needs at national level for the management of chemicals and hazardous waste & at regional & international level (including negotiation skills) Many training needs will be common to the 5 conventions. Regional training would provide cost/benefits, greater efficiency & better access to expertise
    Network of professionals dealing with hazardous waste - Identify regional experts to deal with technical & legal issues
    - Make available through the clearing house mechanism of BRCRs    		 Regional experts in technical & legal issues are likely to have skills and expertise suitable for the needs of the 5 conventions SPREP maintain a clearing house of technical and legal experts
    Strategies on information requirements - Assess software and hardware, its accessibility & personnel needs
    - Develop regional databases where appropriate or utilise existing databases
    - Develop or use existing guidelines on how to access & better use information & improve information flows- Develop/adapt "how to/what for" manuals     		The information needs of the 5 Conventions are complimentary. UN and OECD sites provide gateways to extensive existing chemical databases & procedural manuals. SPREP coordinate information consolidation & access
    Access Regional Centres for Training and Technology Transfer - Assess technology transfer needs
    - Design and conduct general training workshop    		 The 5 conventions acknowledge the need for technical capacity building. SPREP coordinate with regional centres to respond to technology transfer needs. Bamako Secretariat coordinate with BCRC's.
    Financial aspects - Identify priorities for funding
    - Identify funding sources (eg GEF, UNIDO)    		   Bamako Secretariat and SPREP coordinate with the other four Secretariats to develop joint funding programs/partnerships
    Promote and enhance stakeholder partnerships - Develop inter-agency stakeholder cooperation through appropriate mechanisms The stakeholders associated with the conventions are likely to be similar. Consultations and partnerships would serve the needs of the 5 conventions Bamako Secretariat and SPREP coordinate and seek synergy with relevant secretariats & other stakeholders (e.g. through partnerships)
    Awareness programs Develop awareness and public information programs targeted at decision-makers, public/community, religious leaders, industry, academia and relevant agencies, (eg, environmental officers, local authorities, Customs, police trade) The conventions require awareness raising to ensure effective implementation while the Stockholm Convention & Rotterdam Convention have specific obligations for public information. Bamako Secretariat and SPREP coordinate the development of regional awareness programs that can be adapted to reflect local concerns.



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    Environmentally Sound Management of Hazardous Waste and Toxic Chemicals

    Item Activity Relevance to Conventions Regional Opportunities
    Components of environmentally sound management of toxic chemicals and hazardous waste - Identify different phases of chemical management, eg registration, import, use, disposal
    - Identify management components     		The Bamako, Basel, Waigani & Stockholm Conventions require environmentally sound management of chemicals This exercise could be undertaken through regional workshops
    Development of Chemical Use Strategy - Review & adapt other countries' agricultural & veterinary chemical strategy
    - Identify registration data or national systems that could be of assistance with agricultural & veterinary or industrial chemicals    		 The 5 conventions cover all phases of a chemical's life cycle from registration and import to use and final disposal/destruction. Bamako Secretariat, BRCRs & SPREP identify regional resources to support strategy development.
    Development of Hazardous Waste Management Strategy - Set intermediate goals for stabilising hazardous wastes generated eg waste segregation at source, waste recycling, re-use, or reclamation, etc and upgrading of existing facilities
    - Identify industrial chemicals used and potential waste phase
    - Set long term goal of waste reduction or prevention and its environmentally sound management
    - Investigate national, regional-based, or mobile facilities for waste treatment and disposal
    - Adopt or adapt standards & guidelines for OH&S standards and monitoring of workers
    - Identify and involvel stakeholders
    - Identify resource & capacity needs (including human, finance, technology)
    - Consider financial implications, eg sources of funding, incentive schemes
    - Develop action plans to address specific waste problems
    - Develop monitoring & compliance mechanisms - Review & evaluate action plans- Explore alternatives including cultural or traditional knowledge or practices
    - Further develop the hazardous waste management strategy into national waste management strategy    		 A hazardous waste management strategy will help fulfil the obligations of the SC, BC & WC. A regional template for a hazardous waste management strategy could be developed using the experience of the Secretariats and developed countries. African countries can develop similar synergies and work with BCRC's, African Stockpiles Programme and Guidance documents available through the Basel Convention
    Management of existing Stockpiles - Update existing inventories
    - Assess conditions & ensure adequate labelling, storage & security
    - Implement best practice for in-country solutions
    - Export of hazardous waste for recovery or final disposal
    - Implement best practice rehabilitation of contaminated sites     		Three conventions, SC, BC & WC address issues of stockpile identification and management as well as final destruction or disposal. SPREP is assisting through the POPs in PIC program. The African Stockpiles Programme is actively assisting in on the ground projects in Africa to identify and render stockpiles safe.




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