1. BCRC –EGYPT: ROLE AND ACHIEVEMENT
Side Event at the Conference of the Parties of the Basel, Rotterdam & Stockholm Conventions, 28 April – 10 May 2013, Geneva, Switzerland
Prof. Mostafa H. Kamel
Director, BCRC-Egypt

2. AGENDA
Quick Review
BCRC-Egypt Objectives, Organization Structure, Core Functions, Activities, Outputs, Cooperation with Regional and International Organization.
BCRC-Egypt Opportunities
Framework for life cycle management
Hazard Communication between 3 conventions
What should we do together?

3. Quick Overview
In 1995 Egypt was selected to host the Basel Convention Sub-Regional Centre (BCRC) “for Arabic-speaking countries in Africa, and in 2002, Decision VI/9 extended the geographic coverage to serve the other Arabic-speaking countries.
Currently, BCRC-Egypt is serving the 22 Arab States in Africa and West Asia in addition to Iraq and Palestinian Authority.
The Egyptian government instituted BCRC Egypt within one of the most outstanding academic and research institutions in the region; that is, the Cairo University.
The Egyptian Ministry of state for Environmental Affairs (EMSEA) collaborated with the Cairo University in the physical establishment and operation of the centre.

4. Palestinian Authority
BCRC-Egypt
Bahrain
البحرين
Comoros
جزر القمر
Egypt
مصر
Algeria
الجزائر
Jordan
الاردن
Syria
سوريا
Kuwait
الكويت
Tunisia
تونس
UAE
الامارات
Iraq
العراق
Lebanon
لبنان
Yemen
اليمن
Qatar
قطر
Somalia
الصومال
Palestinian Authority
السلطة الفلسطينية
Djibouti
جيبوتى
Saudi Arabia
السعودية
Oman
عمان
Libya
ليبيا
Mauritania
موريتانيا
Sudan
السودان
Morocco
المغرب

5. BCRC-Egypt's Objectives
* Serve as a source of information and guidance for the region's countries in carrying out their obligations under the Basel Convention
* Become an effective coordinating body for the region and regional sub-groups (e.g., the oil-producing Gulf States)
* Serve as a tool for developing capacity in the region, including in the area of legislative, administrative and technical management of hazardous wastes

6. BCRC-Egypt “Organizational Structure”
Steering Committee
SCC (Governing Body)
Directions
Directions
Recommendations
Recommendations
BCRC-Egypt
SBC, COP
OEWG
Directions
Exchange of Information and experiences
Member Countries
Focal Point, National Authorities, NGOs, other related conventions

7. Core functions of the Basel Convention Regional Centres
1. Training
3. Information
2.Technology Transfer
4. Awareness Raising
5. Consulting

8. BCRC-Egypt Activities
1. Sound management of HW,
2. The Basel Convention and its protocol on liability and compensation,
3. Landfills, inventory of HW, illegal traffic, liquid HWM,
4. E-waste assessment, and
5. Many other issues of HWM.

9. BCRC - OUTPUTS
The activities included more than 17 training workshops and 15 pilot projects.
BCRC-Egypt developed and published guidelines adapted for the region on: landfills, used oils, liquid HW, and on conducting national inventories for HW.
BCRC-Egypt translated into Arabic, with Swiss funds, the Guidelines on used and end-of-life mobile phones prepared by the Mobile Phones Partnership Initiative (MPPI) of BC/UNEP.
The Centre is regularly publishing a bi-annual newsletter promoting public awareness and exposing emerging HWM related issues.

10. Cooperation with regional and international institutes & organizations
With RAC/CP, Barcelona PCBs component of the Strategic Partnership initiative funded by the GEF and other donors
With UNEP/MAP , UNEP/ROWA, and CEDARE: combating illegal traffic of hazardous wastes in the Arab region.
With the MPPI and the Swiss government for promoting sound management of end of life and used mobile phones (merely documents translation, reproduction and dissemination).
With The League of the Arab States (LAS), Different Fields

11. Oppertunities Work with NGOs in small pilot projects
Institutional support to SBC Focal Points
Extend working with industry and the private sector.
Further collaboration with regional organizations

12. Framework for Lifecycle Management
Together the three conventions cover the key elements of the life cycle management of hazardous chemicals:
BC can assist in managing disposal of unwanted stockpiles technical working group is developing guidelines on management of POPs wastes.
SC sets out specific criteria for identifying new POPs that are to be incorporated into national assessment schemes – should lead to national regulatory action
RC candidate chemicals are those that are banned or severely restricted or refused first time approval for health or environmental reasons

13. Hazard Communication between The Three Conventions
All 3 have mechanisms for hazard communication
Rotterdam Convention
is a first line of defence against future POPs
gives countries an early opportunity to consider alternatives
PIC procedure should assist in avoiding an accumulation of unwanted stockpiles
Stockholm Convention
eliminate production and use of POPs chemicals
restricts the import and export of POPs
take measures for environmentally sound disposal of wastes and stockpiles
reduce or eliminate unintentional releases of POPs (BAT/BEP guidelines)
Basel Convention
can assist in managing disposal of unwanted stockpiles
technical working group is developing guidelines on management of POPs wastes

14. What should we Do Together?
Share information and experience to insure awarness among relevant authorities
Share resources and technology
Share opportunities for assistance for implementation
Cooperation between FP and regulators will assist in an integrated approach such as implementation More

15. THANK YOU