CARICOM Customs Handbook - Guide to Multilateral Environment Agreements

Abstract

The Basel Convention was created to respond to increased public concern about toxic wastes in the 1980s. Tighter environmental regulation in industrialized countries resulted in sharp increases in the cost of hazardous waste disposal in these countries. Traders started shipping hazardous waste to less developed countries in Africa, Eastern Europe and other regions. There were concerns about toxic ships sailing from port to port trying to offload their poisonous cargo. In some cases, toxic waste shipments were dumped indiscriminately, spilled accidentally or managed improperly, causing severe health and environmental problems. Such incidents received international attention, and as a result the Basel Convention was negotiated under the auspices of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).