The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal was adopted on 22 March 1989 and became effective on 5 May 1992. The overarching objective of the Basel Convention is to protect human health and the environment against the adverse effects of hazardous wastes. Its scope of application covers a wide range of wastes defined as “hazardous wastes” based on their origin and/or composition and their characteristics, as well as two types of wastes defined as “other wastes” - household waste and incinerator ash. Lao PDR became a member to the Basel Convention on 21 September 2010 and entered into force on 20 December 2010.
In Lao PDR, the Law on Environmental Protection (amended) No. 029/NA, dated 18 December 2012 specifies the bar of import, export, transit, distribute, maintain, use, re-use and disposal of hazardous waste in Lao PDR’s territory without permission. For the import of hazardous waste or other waste for re-use or for fuel production is required to get approval from national authority who is also national liaison for the Basel Convention.
Furthermore, Ministry of Natural Resource and Environment had issued an Instruction on the Management of Hazardous Waste, No. 0744/MoNRE, dated 11 February 2015 to improve understanding for the involved public and private sectors about procedures for the import, export, transit, maintain, use, re-use and disposal of hazardous waste throughout the country. It aims to protect, control, reduce amount of hazardous waste as well as to implement advance notice and request for approval of the national authority for the Basel Convention.
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