WAIGANI CONVENTION  >>  background description





The Waigani Convention at a Glance



Name:
The Waigani Convention to Ban the Importation into Forum Island Countries of Hazardous and Radioactive Wastes and to Control the Transboundary Movement and Management of Hazardous Wastes within the South Pacific Region (1995)

(The Waigani Convention)



What is the Purpose of the Convention?

The purpose of the Convention is to:

  • reduce or eliminate transboundary movements of hazardous and radioactive wastes into and within the Pacific Forum region;
  • minimise the production of hazardous and toxic wastes in the Pacific Forum region;
  • ensure that disposal of wastes is done in an environmentally sound manner and as close to the source as possible; and
  • assist Pacific Forum developing countries in the environmentally sound management of hazardous and other wastes they generate.


    What Substances or Chemicals Are Covered by the Convention?

    The Convention covers toxic, poisonous, explosive, corrosive, flammable, ecotoxic, infectious and radioactive wastes.


    What are the General Obligations on Countries?

    Countries should ban the import of hazardous and radioactive wastes. They should minimise the production of hazardous wastes and cooperate to ensure that wastes are treated and disposed of in an environmentally sound manner.


    What are the Economic and Social Benefits of the Convention?

    There are many reasons why the Waigani Convention is important for the region:

  • It provides an effective protective mechanism to stop waste traders from making the South Pacific an international waste dump.
  • It will prevent ships from using the Pacific as a highway for hazardous waste
  • It will create a regional mechanism to facilitate the clean up of hazardous and radioactive wastes in the region.

    The major benefit will be the establishment of a system to prevent hazardous and radioactive waste entering the region or being dumped in your country. A significant but less tangible direct benefit will be the reduced risk from a potential hazardous and nuclear waste disaster. Parties will feel secure in the knowledge that the risk of a shipping disaster will be far less likely.


    What are the Costs Associated with the Convention?

    An administrative fee will apply. This has yet to be determined.


    What Personnel will be Required to Administer the Convention?

    The Convention requires that a Competent Authority and a Focal Point be identified. The amount of staff time required to administer the Convention will depend on the volume of waste being held or transported. As a minimum, a country may need to allocate some time to customs officials, a Focal Point and possibly a scientist/engineer. SPREP may be able to assist in some of the functions required.


    Will National Legislation be Required?

    Yes. This legislation would be similar in format to legislation required to administer the Basel Convention. The Basel Convention Secretariat has produced model legislation.


    Are There Reporting Requirements?

    The Convention describes various forms of information that should be transmitted between countries and to the Secretariat. These include:

  • Export notifications;
  • Written consent or disapproval for import applications;
  • Movement documentation;
  • Accident Notification; and
  • Information on the sound management of wastes


    Will There be Help in Administering the Convention?

    SPREP acts as the Secretariat of Waigani and it is hoping to establish a training and capacity building facility in the region. This will help Pacific Island countries develop the capacity to manage their wastes in an environmentally sound manner.



    What is the Status of the Convention?

    The Convention has entered into force and has held its first Conference of Parties.


    Are There Other Agreements Associated with the Convention?


    The Waigani Convention is very similar to the Basel Convention. The major difference lies in the fact that Waigani is administered within the Pacific Forum region. This means that Pacific Island countries have a significant say in how the Convention will evolve. The Waigani Convention is also different to Basel in that it covers radioactive wastes and extends to the Economic Exclusion Zone (200 nautical miles) rather than the territorial sea (12 nautical miles) under Basel.


    Both Conventions are important and complement each other. The Basel Convention draws on the financial resources of the Global Environment Facility and the technical expertise of experts from around the world.





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