Recalling its decisions VI/29 and VI/30 on international cooperation and cooperation with the World Trade Organization, respectively,
Mindful of the increased level of cooperation with United Nations bodies, other international and regional intergovernmental organizations and multilateral environmental agreements,
Conscious of the importance of developing cooperative links in domains of relevance to the implementation of the Basel Convention,
Noting the tasks contained in the work programme of the Open-ended Working Group for 2005–2006 of relevance to international cooperation,
Considering the report on international cooperation prepared by the Secretariat contained in document UNEP/CHW.7/29,
1.Requests the Secretariat to further strengthen cooperation and synergies in the areas and with the organizations listed below, within their respective mandates:
(a) - Persistent organic pollutantsThe Secretariat of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations on the issue of the environmentally sound management of wastes consisting of, containing or contaminated with persistent organic pollutants;
(b) - Toxic chemicalsThe Secretariat of the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade regarding joint efforts in training and capacity-building, involving the Basel Convention regional centres, with a view to enhancing implementation;
(c) - Strategic approach to international chemicals managementUNEP and other intergovernmental organizations or bodies such as the Inter‑Organization Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals, the Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety and the OSPAR Commission of the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic, with a view to enhancing synergies and complementarities between chemicals and waste issues;
(d) - EnforcementUNEP, the World Customs Organization, the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), relevant multilateral environmental agreements like the chemicals-related conventions, the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer to the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna and biosafety-related conventions or protocols;
(e) - Transport and classificationThe United Nations Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, that committee’s Subcommittee of Experts on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals and the World Health Organization regarding the development of criteria for the hazard characteristics of Annex III to the Convention generally and the transport of infectious substances;
(f) - Identification of wastes in the World Customs Organization’s Harmonized Commodity Description and coding SystemThe secretariat, the Harmonized System Committee and Subcommittee and the Scientific Sub-Committee of the World Customs Organization;
(g) - Dismantling of shipsThe secretariats of the International Maritime Organization, the International Labour Organization, the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and other Matter (London Convention 1972), the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and UNEP;
2.Also requests the Secretariat to continue its cooperation, in accordance with decisions VI/29 and VI/30, on critical areas for the effective implementation of the Basel Convention, its protocol and amendments with relevant organizations, including the following:
(n)The African Union, as secretariat of the Bamako Convention on the Ban of the Import into Africa and the Control of Transboundary Movement and Management of Hazardous Wastes Within Africa;
(q)The South Pacific Regional Environment Programme, as secretariat of the Convention to Ban the Importation into Forum Island Countries of Hazardous and Radioactive Wastes and to Control the Transboundary Movement and Management of Hazardous Wastes Within the South Pacific Region (Waigani Convention);
3.Further requests the Secretariat to report on cooperation to the Conference of the Parties at its eighth meeting;