Lobbying at 1995 Basel conference by developing countries, Greenpeace and several European countries such as Denmark, led to the adoption of an amendment to the convention in 1995 termed the Basel Ban Amendment to the Basel Convention. The amendment has been accepted by 86 countries and the European Union, but has not entered into force (as that requires ratification by three-fourths of the member states to the convention). On 6 September 2019, Croatia became the 97th country to ratify the amendment which will enter into force after 90 days on 5 December 2019. The amendment prohibits the export of hazardous waste from a list of developed (mostly OECD) countries to developing countries. The Basel Ban applies to export for any reason, including recycling. An area of special concern for advocates of the amendment was the sale of ships for salvage, shipbreaking. The Ban Amendment was strenuously opposed by a number of industry groups as well as nations including Australia and Canada. The number of ratification for the entry-into force of the Ban Amendment is under debate: Amendments to the convention enter into force after ratification of "three-fourths of the Parties who accepted them" [Art. 17.5]; so far, the parties of the Basel Convention could not yet agree whether this would be three-fourths of the parties that were party to the Basel Convention when the ban was adopted, or three-fourths of the current parties of the convention [see Report of COP 9 of the Basel Convention]. The status of the amendment ratifications can be found on the Basel Secretariat's web page. The European Union fully implemented the Basel Ban in its Waste Shipment Regulation (EWSR), making it legally binding in all EU member states. Norway and Switzerland have similarly fully implemented the Basel Ban in their legislation.
lobbying at 1995 basel conference by developing countries greenpeace and several european countries such as denmark led to the adoption of an amendment to the convention in 1995 termed the basel ban amendment to the basel convention the amendment has been accepted by 86 countries and the european union but has not entered into force (as that requires ratification by three-fourths of the member states to the convention) on 6 september 2019 croatia became the 97th country to ratify the amendment which will enter into force after 90 days on 5 december 2019 the amendment prohibits the export of hazardous waste from a list of developed (mostly oecd) countries to developing countries the basel ban applies to export for any reason including recycling an area of special concern for advocates of the amendment was the sale of ships for salvage shipbreaking the ban amendment was strenuously opposed by a number of industry groups as well as nations including australia and canada the number of ratification for the entry-into force of the ban amendment is under debate amendments to the convention enter into force after ratification of "three-fourths of the parties who accepted them" [art 175]; so far the parties of the basel convention could not yet agree whether this would be three-fourths of the parties that were party to the basel convention when the ban was adopted or three-fourths of the current parties of the convention [see report of cop 9 of the basel convention] the status of the amendment ratifications can be found on the basel secretariat's web page the european union fully implemented the basel ban in its waste shipment regulation (ewsr) making it legally binding in all eu member states norway and switzerland have similarly fully implemented the basel ban in their legislation