Decision-Recommendation of the Council on Exports of Hazardous 

Wastes from the OECD area 

ENVIRONMENT

.

5 June 1986 - C(86)64/Final

THE COUNCIL, 

Having regard to Articles 5 a) and 5 b) of the Convention on the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and 

Development of 14th December 1960; 

Having regard to the Decision and Recommendation of the Council of 1st February 1984 on Transfrontier 

Movements of Hazardous Wastes [C(83)180(Final)] and without prejudice to that Decision and Recommendation; 

Having regard to the Resolution of the Council of 20th June 1985 on International Co-operation Concerning 

Transfrontier Movements of Hazardous Wastes [C(85)100] by which it has been decided to develop an international 

system for effective control of transfrontier movements of hazardous wastes, including an international agreement of 

a legally binding character; 

Considering the European Communities Council Directive of 6th December 1984 on the Supervision and Control 

within the European Community of the Transfrontier Shipment of Hazardous Wastes [84/631/EEC] supplemented 

by the Decision of the Council of the European Communities of 6th March 1986; 

Considering the work carried out within the United Nations Environment Programme on the environmentally sound 

management of hazardous wastes; 

Considering the particular nature of wastes and the distinction between wastes and products which are traded 

internationally; 

Convinced that the exports of hazardous wastes may, if not properly monitored and controlled, result in serious 

risks to health and the environment; 

On the proposal of the Environment Committee; 

I. DECIDES that Member countries shall: 

 i) Monitor and control exports of hazardous wastes to a final destination which is outside the OECD area; and for 

this purpose shall ensure that their competent authorities are empowered to prohibit such exports in appropriate 

instances; 

ii) Apply no less strict controls on transfrontier movements of hazardous wastes involving non-Member countries 

than they would on movements involving only Member countries; 

iii) Prohibit movements of hazardous wastes to a final destination in a non-Member country without the consent of 

that country and the prior notification to any transit countries of the proposed movements; 

iv) Prohibit movements of hazardous wastes to a non-Member country unless the wastes are directed to an adequate 

disposal facility in that country. 

II. RECOMMENDS that, to implement this Decision, Member countries should: 
 i) Seek to conclude bilateral or multilateral agreements with nonmember countries to which frequent exports of 

hazardous wastes are taking place or are foreseen to take place; 

ii) Apply the measures set out below concerning the control of exports of hazardous wastes to a final destination 

outside the OECD area. 

III. INSTRUCTS the Environment Committee to take account of the elements of this Decision-Recomendation in 

developing the draft international agreement referred to in the Resolution of the Council on International Cooperation Concerning Transfrontier Movements of Hazardous Wastes [C(85)100]. 

 

MEASURES CONCERNING THE CONTROL OF EXPORTS OF HAZARDOUS WASTES

1. The following measures are designed to facilitate the harmonisation of policies concerning transfrontier 

movements of hazardous wastes to a final destination outside the OECD area. They do not prejudice the 

implementation of stricter measures which have been or might be adopted at national, regional or world level to 

reduce the dangers associated with the transport and disposal of hazardous wastes. 

2. These measures should apply in the absence of a bilateral or multilateral agreement concerning transfrontier 

movements of hazardous wastes between the exporting Member country and the importing non-Member country 

concerned, and should be taken into account in the negotiation of such an agreement. 

3. Member countries should require, with respect to any export of hazardous wastes to a final destination outside the 

OECD area, that the measures set out below be taken by the exporter or by the competent authorities of the 

exporting country. 

4. The exporter should: 

a) provide the competent authorities of the importing country (and of any transit countries) with at least the same 

information that he would provide them if they were Member countries; 

b) inform the competent authorities of the importing country of any specific disposal methods legally required or 

forbidden for such wastes in the exporting country; 

c) provide to the competent authorities of the exporting country: 

o the information used by the exporter to assure himself that the proposed disposal operation can be 

performed in an environmentally sound manner; 

o certification that the proposed disposal facility may, under the laws and regulations of the 

importing country, dispose of the kinds of wastes whose export is proposed; 

o a copy of an undertaking by the operator of the proposed disposal facility that he will dispose of 

the wastes as foreseen in the disposal contract, and in the facility specified therein; 

o a copy of the information transmitted to the competent authorities of the importing country to 

obtain their written consent to the import and disposal of the wastes; 

o a copy of the written consent of the competent authorities of the importing country, and 

confirmation that the competent authorities of any transit countries have received delivery of 

notification; 

o demand and receive from the disposer documents confirming that the wastes have been handed 

over to the disposer and disposed of as foreseen, and put these documents at the disposition of the 

competent authorities of the exporting country. 
5. Member countries may choose to charge their competent authorities instead of the exporter with some of the 

tasks listed above. 

6. The competent authorities of the exporting country should: 

a) before any final decision is taken, inform the competent authorities of the importing country when they have 

specific environmental concerns regarding the proposed disposal operation; 

b) prohibit the export of the hazardous wastes whenever: 

o they are not satisfied with the information provided under 4 c) above; 

o an objection is made by any country of transit and no appropriate alternative route can be found by 

the exporter; 

o the proposed disposal operation is not in conformity with applicable international law; 

c) prohibit additional exports of hazardous wastes to a given destination when the documents specified in 4 d) 

above were not provided to the exporter by the disposer after a previous export to the same destination; 

d) notify the exporter promptly whether or not they object to the proposed transfrontier movement; 

e) notify the competent authorities of the importing country if they have prohibited the export of the wastes. 

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Definitions

For the purpose of this Decision-Recommendation: 

a) "Waste" means...* ; 

b) "Hazardous waste" means... *; 

c) "Transfrontier movement of hazardous wastes" means any shipment of wastes from one country to another, 

where the wastes are considered as being hazardous wastes in at least one of the countries concerned. Hazardous 

wastes arising from the normal operation of ships, including slops and residues, shall not be considered a 

transfrontier movement covered by this Decision-Recommendation; 

d) "Exporting country" means any country from which a transfrontier movement of hazardous wastes is initiated or 

is envisaged; 

e) "Importing country" means any country to which a transfrontier movement of hazardous wastes takes place or is 

envisaged for purpose of disposal (treatment, landfill, storage, dumping or incineration at sea); 

f) "Transit country" means any country other than the exporting or importing country across which a transfrontier 

movement of hazardous wastes takes place or is envisaged; 

g) "Exporter" means the generator of the wastes or the person in the exporting country who arranges for exporting 

the wastes at the request and on behalf of the generator; 

h) "OECD area" means all land or marine areas under the national jurisdiction of any OECD Member country. 

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* For the definitions of "Waste" and "Hazardous Waste" see the Decision of the Council on the Transfrontier 

Movements of Hazardous Wastes of 27 May 1988 [C(88)90(Final)]