# Parties to the Basel Convention

Information provided by the United Nations Office of Legal Affairs, New York. For more information on the status of the Convention, its amendments and related declarations as well as background information of key terms please check the website of the Treaty Section of the United Nations (which is now a pay site) the following is issued for information purposes only.
Parties to the Basel Convention
Total number of Parties: 170Entry into force: 5 May 1992, in accordance with article 25 (1) of the Convention.
Registration: 5 May 1992, No. 28911. :
| Participant | Signature | Date * |
| Afghanistan | 22.03.89 | |
| Albania | | 29.06.99 (a) |
| Algeria | | 15.09.98 (a) |
| Andorra | | 23.7.99 (a) |
| Antigua and Barbuda | | 05.04.93 (a) |
| Argentina | 28.06.89 | 27.06.91 |
| Armenia | | 01.10.99 (a) |
| Australia | | 05.02.92 (a) |
| Austria | 19.03.90 | 12.01.93 |
| Azerbaijan | | 01.06.01 (a) |
| Bahamas | | 12.08.92 (a) |
| Bahrain | 22.03.89 | 15.10.92 |
| Bangladesh | | 01.04.93 (a) |
| Barbados | | 24.08.95 (a) |
| Belarus | | 10.12.99 (a) |
| Belgium | 22.03.89 | 01.11.93 |
| Belize | | 23.05.97 (a) |
| Benin | | 04.12.97 (a) |
| Bhutan | | 26.08.02 (a) |
| Bolivia | 22.03.89 | 15.11.96 |
| Bosnia & Herzegovina | | 16.03.01 (a) |
| Botswana | | 20.05.98 (a) |
| Brazil | | 01.10.92 (a) |
| Brunei Darussalam | | 16.12.02 (a) |
| Bulgaria | | 16.02.96 (a) |
| Burkina Faso | | 04.11.99 (a) |
| Burundi | | 06.01.97 (a) |
| Cambodia | | 02.03.01 (a) |
| Cameroon | | 09.02.01 (a) |
| Canada | 22.03.89 | 28.08.92 |
| Cape Verde | | 02.07.99 (a) |
| Chad | | 10.03.04 (a) |
| Central African Republic | | 24.02.06 (a) |
| Chile | 31.01.90 | 11.08.92 |
| China <A href="#4">$^4$</A> | 22.03.90 | 17.12.91 |
| Colombia | 22.03.89 | 31.12.96 |
| Comoros | | 31.10.94 (a) |
| Congo (Republic of the) | | 20.04.07 (a) |
| Cook Islands | | 29.06.04 (a) |
| Costa Rica | | 07.03.95 (a) |
| Côte d'Ivoire | | 01.12.94 (a) |
| Croatia | | 09.05.94 (a) |
| Cuba | | 03.10.94 (a) |
| Cyprus | 22.03.89 | 17.09.92 |
| Czech Republic <A href="#5">$^5$</A> | | 30.09.93 (d) |
| Democratic Republic of Congo | | 06.10.94 (a) |
| Denmark | 22.03.89 | 06.02.94 (AA) |
| Djibouti | | 31.05.02 (a) |
| Dominica | | 05.05.98 (a) |
| Dominican Republic | | 10.07.00 (a) |
| Ecuador | 22.03.89 | 23.02.93 |
| Egypt <A href="#6">$^6$</A> | | 08.01.93 (a) |
| El Salvador | 22.03.90 | 13.12.91 |
| Equatorial Guinea | | 07.02.03 (a) |
| Eritrea | | 10.03.05 (a) |
| Estonia | | 21.07.92 (a) |
| Ethiopia | | 12.04.00 (a) |
| European Community | 22.03.89 | 07.02.94 (AA) |
| Finland | 22.03.89 | 19.11.91 (A) |
| France | 22.03.89 | 07.01.91 (AA) |
| Gambia | | 15.12.97 (a) |
| Georgia | | 20.05.99 (a) |
| Germany <A href="#7">$^7$</A> | 23.10.89 | 21.04.95 |
| Ghana | | 30.05.03 (a) |
| Greece | 22.03.89 | 04.08.94 |
| Guatemala | 22.03.89 | 15.05.95 |
| Guinea | | 26.04.95 (a) |
| Guinea-Bissau | | 09.02.05 (a) |
| Guyana | | 04.04.01 (a) |
| Haiti | 22.03.89 | |
| Honduras | | 27.12.95 (a) |
| Hungary | 22.03.89 | 21.05.90 (AA) |
| Iceland | | 28.06.95 (a) |
| India | 15.03.90 | 24.06.92 |
| Indonesia | | 20.09.93 (a) |
| Iran (Islamic Republic of) | | 05.01.93 (a) |
| Ireland | 19.01.90 | 07.02.94 |
| Israel | 22.03.89 | 04.12.94 |
| Italy | 22.03.89 | 07.02.94 |
| Jamaica | | 23.01.03 (a) |
| Japan | | 17.09.93 (a) |
| Jordan | 22.03.89 | 22.06.89 (AA) |
| Kazakhstan | | 03.06.03 (a) |
| Kenya | | 01.06.00 (a) |
| Kiribati | | 07.09.00 (a) |
| Kuwait | 22.03.89 | 11.10.93 |
| Kyrgyzstan | | 13.08.96 (a) |
| Latvia | | 14.04.92 (a) |
| Lebanon | 22.03.89 | 21.12.94 |
| Lesotho | | 31.05.00 (a) |
| Liberia | | 22.09.04 (a) |
| Libyan Arab Jamahiriya | | 12.07.01 (a) |
| Liechtenstein | 22.03.89 | 27.01.92 |
| Lithuania | | 22.04.99 (a) |
| Luxembourg | 22.03.89 | 07.02.94 |
| Madagascar | | 02.06.99 (a) |
| Malawi | | 21.04.94 (a) |
| Malaysia | | 08.10.93 (a) |
| Maldives | | 28.04.92 (a) |
| Mali | | 05.12.00 (a) |
| Malta | | 19.06.00 (a) |
| Marshall Islands | | 27.01.03 (a) |
| Mauritania | | 16.08.96 (a) |
| Mauritius | | 24.11.92 (a) |
| Mexico | 22.03.89 | 22.02.91 |
| Micronesia (Federated States of) | | 06.09.95 (a) |
| Monaco | | 31.08.92 (a) |
| Mongolia | | 15.04.97 (a) |
| Montenegro <A href="#8">$^8$</A> | | 22.11.06 (d) |
| Morocco | | 28.12.95 (a) |
| Mozambique | | 13.03.97 (a) |
| Namibia | | 15.05.95 (a) |
| Nauru | | 12.11.01 (a) |
| Nepal | | 15.10.96 (a) |
| Netherlands <A href="#9">$^9$</A> | 22.03.89 | 16.04.93 (A) |
| New Zealand <A href="#10">$^{10}$</A> | 18.03.89 | 20.12.94 |
| Nicaragua | | 03.06.97 (a) |
| Niger | | 17.06.98 (a) |
| Nigeria | 15.03.90 | 13.03.91 |
| Norway | 22.03.89 | 02.07.90 |
| Oman | | 08.02.95 (a) |
| Pakistan | | 26.07.94 (a) |
| Panama | 22.03.89 | 22.02.91 |
| Papua New Guinea | | 01.09.95 (a) |
| Paraguay | | 28.09.95 (a) |
| Peru | | 23.11.93 (a) |
| Philippines | 22.03.89 | 21.10.93 |
| Poland | 22.03.90 | 22.03.92 |
| Portugal <A href="#11">$^{11}$</A> | 26.06.89 | 26.01.94 |
| Qatar | | 09.08.95 (a) |
| Republic of Korea | | 28.02.94 (a) |
| Republic of Moldova | | 02.07.98 (a) |
| Romania | | 27.02.91 (a) |
| Russian Federation | 22.03.90 | 31.01.95 |
| Rwanda | | 07.01.04 (a) |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | | 07.09.94 (a) |
| Saint Lucia | | 09.12.93 (a) |
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | | 02.12.96 (a) |
| Samoa | | 22.03.02 (a) |
| Saudi Arabia | 22.03.89 | 07.03.90 |
| Senegal | | 10.11.92 (a) |
| Serbia <A href="#8">$^8$</A> | | 18.04.00 (a) |
| Seychelles | | 11.05.93 (a) |
| Singapore | | 02.01.96 (a) |
| Slovakia <A href="#5">$^5$</A> | | 28.05.93 (d) |
| Slovenia | | 07.10.93 (a) |
| South Africa | | 05.05.94 (a) |
| Spain | 22.03.89 | 07.02.94 |
| Sri Lanka | | 28.08.92 (a) |
| Sudan | | 09.01.06 (a) |
| Swaziland | | 08.08.05 (a) |
| Sweden | 22.03.89 | 02.08.91 |
| Switzerland | 22.03.89 | 31.01.90 |
| Syrian Arab Republic | 11.10.89 | 22.01.92 |
| Thailand | 22.03.90 | 24.11.97 |
| The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia | | 16.07.97 (a) |
| Togo | | 02.07.04 (a) |
| Trinidad and Tobago | | 18.02.94 (a) |
| Tunisia | | 11.10.95 (a) |
| Turkey | 22.03.89 | 22.06.94 |
| Turkmenistan | | 25.09.96 (a) |
| Uganda | | 11.03.99 (a) |
| Ukraine | | 08.10.99 (a) |
| United Arab Emirates | 22.03.89 | 17.11.92 |
| United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland <A href="#4">$^4$</A>$^,$<A href="#12">$^{12}$</A> | 06.10.89 | 07.02.94 |
| United Republic of Tanzania | | 07.04.93 (a) |
| United States of America <A href="#13">$^{13}$</A> | 22.03.90 | |
| Uruguay | | 20.12.91 |
| Uzbekistan | | 07.02.96 (a) |
| Venezuela | 22.03.89 | 03.03.98 |
| Viet Nam | | 13.03.95 (a) |
| Yemen | | 21.02.96 (a) |
| Zambia | | 15.11.94 (a) |
| * (a) Accession; (A) Acceptance; (AA) Approval; (c) Formal confirmation; Ratification; (d)Succession |
| Signatories of the Basel Convention which have not deposed instruments of ratifications: Afghanistan, Haiti, United States of America |
| Declarations (Unless otherwise indicated, the declarations were made upon formal confirmation, ratification, acceptance, approval, accession or succession. For objections thereto, see hereinafter.) Algeria   Declaration: The Government of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria declares, with regard to article 20, paragraph 2 of the [Convention], that in every case, the agreement of the all parties concerned is necessary to submit a dispute to the International Court of Justice or to arbitration. Chile Declaration: The Government of Chile considers that the provisions of this Convention [. . .] help to consolidate and expand the legal regime that Chile has established through various international instruments on the control of transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and their disposal, whose scope of application covers both the continental territory of the Republic and its area of jurisdiction situated south of latitude 600S, in accordance with the provisions of article 4, paragraph 6, of the present Convention. Colombia Upon signature: It is the understanding of Colombia that the implementation of the present Convention shall in no case restrict, but rather shall strengthen, the application of the juridical and political principles which, as [was] made clear in the statement [made on 21 March to the Basel Conference], govern the actions taken by the Colombian State in matters covered by the Convention -- in other words, inter alia, the latter may in no case be interpreted or applied in a manner inconsistent with the competence of the Colombian State to apply those principles and other norms of its internal rule to its land area (including the subsoil), air space, territorial sea, submarine continental shelf and exclusive economic maritime zone, in accordance with international law. Upon ratification: The Government of Colombia, pursuant to article 26, paragraph 2, of the [said Convention], declares, for the purposes of implementing this international instrument, that article 81 of the Political Constitution of Colombia prohibits the bringing of nuclear residues and toxic wastes into the national territory.   Cuba   Declaration: The Government of the Republic of Cuba declares, with regard to article 20 of the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, that any disputes between Parties as to the interpreta- tion or application of, or compliance with, this Convention or any protocol thereto, shall be settled through negotiation through the diplomatic channel or submitted to arbitration under the conditions set out in Annex VI on arbitration.   Denmark   Upon signature: "Denmark's signature of the Global Convention of the Con- trol of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal does not apply to Greenland and the Faroe Islands."   Ecuador   Upon signature: The elements contained in the Convention which has been signed may in no way be interpreted in a manner inconsistent with the domestic legal norms of the Ecuadorian State, or with the exercise of its national sovereignty.   Germany $^{{{{1}}}}$   Declaration made upon signature and confirmed upon ratification: "It is the understanding of the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany that the provisions in article 4, paragraph 12 of this Convention shall in no way affect the exercise of navigation rights and freedoms as provided for in international law. Accordingly, it is the view of the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany that nothing in this Convention shall be deemed to require the giving of notice to or the consent of any State for the passage of hazardous wastes on a vessel under the flag of a party exercising its right of innocent passage through the territorial sea or the freedom of navigation in an exclusive economic zone under international law."   Indonesia   Declaration: Mindful of the need to adjust the existing national laws and regulations, the provisions of article 3 (1) of this Convention shall only be implemented by Indonesia after the new revised laws and regulations have been enacted and entered into force.   Italy   Declaration made on 30 March 1990 and confirmed upon ratification: The Government of Italy declares . . . that it is in favour of the establishment of a global control system for the environmentally sound management of transboundary movements of hazardous wastes.   Japan   Declaration: The Government of Japan declares that nothing in the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal be interpreted as requiring notice to or consent of any State for the mere passage of hazardous wastes or other wastes on a vessel exercising navigational rights and freedoms, as paragraph 12 of article 4 of the said Convention stipulates that nothing in the Convention shall affect in any way the exercise of navigational rights and freedoms as provided for in international law and as reflected in relevant international instruments.   Lebanon   Upon signature: "[Lebanon] declares that [it] can under no circumstances permit burial of toxic and other wastes in any of the areas subject to its legal authority which they have entered illegally. In 1988, Lebanon announced a total ban on the import of such wastes and adopted Act No. 64/88 of 12 August 1988 to that end. In all such situations, Lebanon will endeavour to co-operate with the States concerned, and with the other States parties, in accordance with the provisions of this treaty."   Mexico   Declaration made upon signature and confirmed upon ratification: Mexico is signing ad referendum the Basel Convention on the Control of the Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their disposal because it duly protects its rights as a coastal State in the areas subject to its national jurisdiction, including the territorial sea, the exclusive economic zone and the continental shelf and, in so far as it is relevant, its airspace, and the exercise in those areas of its legislative and administrative competence in relation to the protection and preservation of the environment, as recognized by international law and, in particular, the law of the sea. Mexico considers that, by means of this Convention, important progress has been made in protection of the environment through the legal regulation of transboundary movements of hazardous wastes. A framework of general obligations for States parties has been established, fundamentally with a view to reducing to a minimum the generation and transboundary movement of dangerous wastes and ensuring their environmentally rational management, promoting international co-operation for those purposes, establishing co-ordination and follow-up machinery and regulating the implementation of procedures for the peaceful settlement of disputes. Mexico further hopes that, as an essential supplement to the standard-setting character of the Convention, a protocol will be adopted as soon as possible, establishing, in accordance with the principles and provisions of international law, appropriate procedures in the matter of responsibility and compensation for damage resulting from the transboundary movement and management of dangerous wastes.   Norway "Norway accepts the binding means of settling disputes set out in Article 20, paragraphs 3 (a) and (b), of the Convention, by (a) submission of the dispute to the International Court of Justice and/or (b) arbitration in accordance with the procedures set out in Annex VI."   Poland   Declaration: With respect to article 20, paragraph 2, of the Convention, the Polish Republic declares that it recognizes submission to arbitration in accordance with the procedures and under the conditions set out in Annex VI to the Convention, as compulsory ipso facto.   Romania   Declaration: In conformity with article 26, paragraph 2, of the Convention, Romania declares that the import and the disposal on its national territory of hazardous wastes and other wastes can take place only with the prior approval of the competent Romanian authorities.   Russian Federation   Understanding: The definition of "Territory" in the Cairo Guidelines and Principles for the Environmentally Sound Management of Hazardous Wastes (UNEP Governing Council decision 14/30 of 17 June 1987) to which reference is made in the preamble to the Convention is a special formulation and cannot be used for purposes of interpreting the present Convention or any of its provisions in the light of article 31, paragraph 2, or article 32 of the 1969 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties or on any other basis.   Saint Kitts and Nevis   Declaration: "With respect to article 20, paragraph 2 of the Convention, the Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis declares that it recognizes submission to arbitration in accordance with the procedures and the conditions set out in Annex VI to the Convention, as compulsory ipso facto ."   Singapore   Declaration: "The Government of Singapore declares that, in accordance with article 4 (12), the provisions of the Convention do not in any way affect the exercise of navigational rights and freedoms as provided in international law. Accordingly, nothing in this Convention requires notice to or consent of any State for the passage of a vessel under the flag of a party, exercising rights of passage through the territorial sea or freedom of navigation in an exclusive economic zone under international law."   Spain   Declaration: The Spanish Government declares, in accordance with article 26.2 of the Convention, that the criminal characterization of illegal traffic in hazardous wastes or other wastes, established as an obligation of States Parties under article 4.3, will in future take place within the general framework of reform of the substantive criminal legal order.   United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland   Declaration made upon signature and confirmed upon ratification: "The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland declare that, in accordance with article 4 (12), the provisions of the Convention do not affect in any way the exercise of navigational rights and freedoms as provided for in international law. Accordingly, nothing in this Convention requires notice to or consent of any state for the passage of hazardous wastes on a vessel under the flag of a party, exercising rights of passage through the territorial sea or freedom of navigation in an exclusive economic zone under international law."   Uruguay   Upon signature: Uruguay is signing ad referendum the Convention on the Control of the Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal because it is duly protecting its rights as a riparian State in the areas subject to its national jurisdiction, including the territorial sea, the exclusive economic zone and the continental shelf and, as appropriate, the superjacent air space as well as the exercise in such areas of its standard-setting and administrative competence in connection with the protection and preservation of the environment as recognized by international law and, in particular, by the law of the sea.   Venezuela   Upon signature: Venezuela considers that the Convention [as] adopted properly protects its sovereign rights as a riparian State over the areas under its national jurisdiction, including its territorial sea, exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, and, as appropriate, its air space. The Convention also safeguards the exercise in such areas of its standard-setting and administrative jurisdiction for the purpose of protecting and preserving the environment and its natural resources in accordance with international law, and in particular the law of the sea.   Objections (Unless otherwise indicated, the objections were received upon formal confirmation, ratification, acceptance, approval, accession or succession.)   Italy   The Government of Italy, in expressing its objections vis-à-vis the declarations made, upon signature, by the Governments of Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Uruguay and Venezuela, as well as other declarations of similar tenor that might be made in the future, considers that no provision of this Convention should be interpreted as restricting navigational rights recognized by international law. Consequently, a State party is not obliged to notify any other State or obtain authorization from it for simple passage through the territorial sea or the exercise of freedom of navigation in the exclusive economic zone by a vessel showing its flag and carrying a cargo of hazardous wastes. |