Three different international treaties regulate international aspects of of hazardous materials and wastes. This week, staff and delegates working on the three treaties are meeting together to coordinate their efforts.
The three coordinated meetings are:
The eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention (BC COP11) on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal,
The sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention (RC COP6) on the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade, and
The sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention (SC COP6) on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs).
Canada implements all three conventions through the Canadian Environmental Protection Act.
The second simultaneous extraordinary meetings of the Conferences of the Parties to the three conventions (ExCOPs2) began this week in Geneva, Switzerland.
Key issues to be considered by the simultaneous meetings include: joint activities among the conventions; progress on enhancing cooperation and coordination among the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions; and identifying new concrete areas where synergies can be achieved.