Improving legal clarity

“In their decisions BC-13/21, RC-8/14, SC-8/24 on the synergies in preventing and combating illegal traffic and trade in hazardous chemicals and wastes the conferences of the Parties invited Parties to share information on their national coordination mechanisms and cases of illegal traffic and trade, and they requested the Secretariat to seek, subject to the availability of resources, comments from Parties and others on further areas, including areas common to two or three of the conventions, in which legal clarity could be improved as a means of preventing and combating illegal traffic and trade in hazardous chemicals and wastes and, based on those comments, to prepare a report, including recommendations, for consideration by the Conference of the Parties at its next meeting.

On 31 July 2018, the Secretariat made available to Parties and observers, with an invitation to reply by 31 August 2018, a questionnaire seeking:

  • Information on their experience with the establishment of coordinating mechanisms, the involvement of different stakeholder groups, and lessons learned that could benefit the implementation of all three conventions, including identified needs to adjust legal and institutional frameworks
  • Information on cases of illegal trade in hazardous chemicals and wastes
  • Information on areas common to two or three of the conventions in which legal clarity could be improved, as a means of preventing and combating illegal traffic and trade in hazardous chemicals and wastes

The 45 responses received in response are available in the table below.

Responses received from Parties and observers to the Secretariat questionnaire

  • Parties
  • Others

The report prepared by the Secretariat on areas common to two or three of the conventions, in which legal clarity could be improved as a means of preventing and combating illegal traffic and trade in hazardous chemicals and wastes is set out in the annex to document UNEP/CHW.14/23 - UNEP/FAO/RC/COP.9/19 - UNEP/POPS/COP.9/26. It will be considered by the conferences of the Parties during their 2019 meetings.