🌐 Chapter 09 · Topic 04 · International Conventions

Chemicals & Waste Conventions

Basel Convention (hazardous waste), Rotterdam Convention (chemicals), Stockholm Convention (POPs), Minamata Convention (mercury) — complete UPSC & PSC notes.

☢️ Basel Convention (1989)

Full name: Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal
Adopted: Basel, Switzerland, 1989; entered into force 1992; Secretariat: Geneva, Switzerland
187 parties
Objective: reduce the generation of hazardous waste; ensure environmentally sound management; control transboundary movements of hazardous waste
Prevents “toxic trade” — dumping of hazardous waste from developed to developing countries
Prior Informed Consent (PIC) required from receiving country before exporting hazardous waste
Basel Ban Amendment (1995) — prohibits export of hazardous waste from OECD to non-OECD countries for any purpose (including recycling); entered into force 2019
India ratified Basel Convention in 1992; Hazardous Waste Management Rules 1989 (amended 2016) implement it

⭐ E-Waste & Basel Convention: Electronic waste (e-waste) is one of the fastest-growing waste streams globally. Developed countries often export e-waste to developing countries (India, China, Ghana, Nigeria) for “recycling” — but this exposes workers to toxic materials (lead, mercury, cadmium). The Basel Convention’s e-waste provisions and the Basel Ban Amendment aim to prevent this. India’s E-Waste Management Rules 2022 implement Basel Convention obligations.

⚗️ Rotterdam Convention (1998)

Full name: Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade
Adopted: Rotterdam, Netherlands, 1998; entered into force 2004; Secretariat: Geneva/Rome (jointly with FAO)
165 parties
Objective: promote shared responsibility in international trade of hazardous chemicals; protect human health and environment
Prior Informed Consent (PIC) procedure — importing countries must be informed about hazardous chemicals before they are exported; importing country can decide whether to allow import
Covers: banned/severely restricted pesticides and industrial chemicals; severely hazardous pesticide formulations
Chemicals listed in Annex III are subject to PIC procedure (currently 54 chemicals)

☠️ Stockholm Convention (2001)

Full name: Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
Adopted: Stockholm, Sweden, 2001; entered into force 2004; Secretariat: Geneva, Switzerland
185 parties
Objective: protect human health and environment from Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
POPs = chemicals that: (1) persist in the environment for long periods; (2) bioaccumulate in food chains; (3) travel long distances; (4) cause adverse effects on human health and environment
Original “Dirty Dozen” — 12 POPs initially listed: aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, chlordane, heptachlor, mirex, toxaphene, DDT, hexachlorobenzene, PCBs, dioxins, furans
Now covers 30+ POPs; new chemicals added regularly
Three annexes: Annex A (elimination), Annex B (restriction), Annex C (unintentional release reduction)

📌 DDT & Stockholm Convention: DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) is listed in Annex B (restriction) — not complete elimination — because it is still needed for malaria vector control in some developing countries. India is one of the largest users of DDT for malaria control. India has been working to phase out DDT under the Stockholm Convention while maintaining malaria control. DDT bioaccumulates in food chains — causing eggshell thinning in birds (especially raptors like bald eagles and peregrine falcons).

🌡️ Minamata Convention (2013)

Full name: Minamata Convention on Mercury
Adopted: Kumamoto, Japan, 2013; entered into force 2017; Secretariat: Geneva, Switzerland
140+ parties
Named after Minamata disease — mercury poisoning in Minamata, Japan (1950s–1960s) caused by industrial discharge of methylmercury into Minamata Bay; thousands affected
Objective: protect human health and environment from anthropogenic emissions and releases of mercury
Covers: mercury mining, use in products (thermometers, batteries, lamps), industrial processes, artisanal gold mining, waste management
Phase-out of mercury-added products by 2020 (thermometers, batteries, switches, lamps)
India ratified in 2018

📊 Quick Comparison Table

Convention	Year	Subject	Secretariat	Parties
Basel	1989	Hazardous waste transboundary movement	Geneva	187
Rotterdam	1998	Hazardous chemicals in trade (PIC)	Geneva/Rome	165
Stockholm	2001	Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)	Geneva	185
Minamata	2013	Mercury	Geneva	140+

✅ Revision Checklist — Chemicals & Waste Conventions

✅ Basel Convention = 1989 = hazardous waste = transboundary movement = Geneva
✅ Basel Convention = PIC required before exporting hazardous waste
✅ Basel Ban Amendment (1995) = prohibits export from OECD to non-OECD = entered into force 2019
✅ India ratified Basel 1992; Hazardous Waste Rules 1989 implement it
✅ Rotterdam Convention = 1998 = hazardous chemicals in trade = PIC procedure
✅ Rotterdam = Annex III chemicals = 54 chemicals subject to PIC
✅ Stockholm Convention = 2001 = POPs = Persistent Organic Pollutants
✅ POPs = persist + bioaccumulate + travel long distances + cause harm
✅ Original “Dirty Dozen” = 12 POPs including DDT, PCBs, dioxins
✅ DDT = Annex B (restriction, not elimination) = still used for malaria control
✅ Minamata Convention = 2013 = mercury = named after Minamata disease, Japan
✅ Minamata disease = methylmercury poisoning = 1950s–60s Japan
✅ India ratified Minamata Convention 2018
✅ All four conventions = secretariat in Geneva (Rotterdam jointly with Rome/FAO)