The Basel Convention is closely involved with all the aspects of the transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and other wastes as well as their environmentally sound management. Nevertheless there are some issues that might be considered as relevants on account of their importance to the implementation of the Convention or how they affect the human health and the environment. We will briefly describe these issues below.

• Ban amendment: at COP2 and COP3 Parties agreed to ban hazardous wastes exports for final disposal and recycling from what are known as Annex VII countries (Basel Convention Parties that are members of the EU, OECD, Liechtenstein) to non-Annex VII countries (all other Parties to the Convention). At COP3 it was proposed that the ban be formally incorporated in the Basel Convention as an amendment. The Ban Amendment has to be ratified by three-fourths of the Parties who accepted it in order to enter into force.
• The Basel Protocol on Liability and Compensation was adopted at COP5. The Protocol talks began in 1993 in response to the concerns of developing countries about their lack of funds and technologies for coping with illegal dumping or accidental spills.

  The objective of the Protocol is to provide for a comprehensive regime for liability as well as adequate and prompt compensation for damage resulting from the transboundary movement of hazardous wastes and other wastes, including incidents occurring because of illegal traffic in those wastes.

  The Protocol addresses who is financially responsible in the event of an incident. Each phase of a transboundary movement, from the point at which the wastes are loaded on the means of transport to their export, international transit, import, and final disposal, is considered.

• Dismantling of ships The benefits and risks currently presented by the ship dismantling industry are heatedly debated. The issue has become a priority on the international agenda. Much work is being carried out in many international and regional fora to come to a sustainable ship dismantling industry that safeguards those employed in it and protects the environment, while recognizing the vital role the industry plays in the economies of certain States.

• Abandonment of ships: Some Parties to the Basel Convention have expressed concern with regard to abandoned ships on land or in ports and their potential effects on human health and on the environment. Consequently, the Conference of the Parties and the Open-ended Working Group have taken up this issue.
• Illegal traffic: Preventing, detecting and acting against illegal transboundary movements of hazardous and other wastes (“illegal traffic”) is a crucial element in the global waste challenge. Illegal traffic of hazardous waste is unfortunately still very common in all corners of the world (e.g. a press release of IMPEL of 8 November 2005 noted that a joint enforcement operation of European environmental authorities in 17 European seaports had shown that 48% of waste shipments were illegal under EU regulations.)
• Trade and Environment: The international regulation of trade is of particular significance to the BC, given that establishes a mechanism to govern transboundary movements of hazardous wastes, including the monitoring of international trade and prevention of illegal trade of hazardous wastes and export and import licensing systems for hazardous wastes.The BC seeks to cooperate with international bodies that are engaged in the development of laws and procedures to regulate international trade.
• Compliance Mechanism : The objective of the mechanism is to assist Parties to comply with their obligations under the Convention and to facilitate, promote, monitor and aim to secure the implementation of and compliance with the obligations under the Convention.

  A Committee for administrating this mechanism (the “Compliance Committee”) has been established. It consists of 15 Members nominated by the Parties based on equitable geographical representation of the five regional groups of the United Nations, elected by the Conference of the Parties.

• Cooperation and coordination with other organizations and sister conventions dealing with toxic chemicals. In addition to the Basel Convention, two major UNEP conventions tackle key aspects of the chemicals lifecycle: the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants and the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade