1. ESM of Biomedical and Infectious Wastes Under the Basel Convention
Ibrahim Shafii
Secretariat of the Basel Convention

2. Contents of the Presentation
Classification of biomedical and infections wastes in Basel Convention
Basel Convention Work Programme on biomedical and infectious wastes:
>Hazard characteristics H6.2
>Technical guidelines on Y1; Y3

3. Hazardous Wastes Controlled by the Basel Convention
Annexes I, VIII and IX, exhibiting Annex III characteristics (Art. 1(1)(a) of Annex I)
Annex II (Art. 1(2))
Wastes considered hazardous under the
national legislation of a Party, as notified
to the Secretariat under Article 3 (Art. 1(1)(b)) (This information may be accessed at the Secretariat’s website:

4. Environmentally Sound Management
Central Policy instrument is Environmentally Sound Management (ESM):
“taking all practicable steps to ensure that hazardous wastes or other wastes are managed in a manner which will protect human health and the environment against the adverse effects which may result from such wastes”
ESM includes minimizing the generation of such wastes, reducing transboundary movements, improving treatment and disposal, and ensuring such wastes are handled as close as possible to where they were generated

5. Classification of biomedical and infections wastes in the Basel Convention
Annex I
Y1 – Clinical wastes from medical care in hospitals, medical centres and clinics
Y3 – Waste pharmaceuticals, drugs and medicines
Annex III
H 6.2 – Infectious substances

6. Classification of medical waste in the Basel Convention
Annex VIII (List A)
A4020 – Clinical and related wastes; that is wastes arising from medical, nursing, dental, veterinary, or similar practices, and wastes generated in hospitals or other facilities during the investigation or treatment of patients, or research projects
A4140 – Waste consisting of or containing off-specification or outdated chemicals corresponding to Annex I categories

9. Basel Convention Work Programme on Biomedical and Infectious Wastes
Development of guidance document on hazard characterstics H6.2
Development of technical guidelines on the ESM of biomedical and heathcare wastes (Y1; Y3)

10. Hazard characteristics H6.2
COP4: mandated the development of guidance document on hazard characterstics H6.2 (infectious substances)
United Kingdom lead the work on H6.2
Guidance paper was adopted on an interim basis by COP7 (Oct. 2004)

11. Hazard characteristics H6.2
Annex III describes H6.2:
Substances or wastes containing viable microorganisms or their toxins which are known or suspected to cause disease in animals or humans

12. Hazard characteristics H6.2
Contents of guidance paper:
Purpose and scope
Background
Infectiousness and intrinsic properties of BC hazard characteristics
Risk assessment approach
Criterion for determination by non-test risk assessment method
Relationship with transport regulations
Wastes to which H6.2 might apply
Consideration of regional variations
When analysis is needed

13. Technical Guidelines on ESM of Biomedical and Healthcare Waste
COP4: mandated the development of technical guidelines on biomedical and healthcare wastes
COP6: technical guidelines adopted

14. Technical Guidelines on ESM of Biomedical and Healthcare Waste
Contents of TG:
Purpose and scope
General definitions of biomedical and healthcare wastes
Hazards of biomedical and healthcare wastes
Field of application/source indentification
Waste identification and classification/waste groups
Applicable state of the art management, treatment and disposal technologies
Waste management auditing
Capacity building

15. Other related work: COP Mandates on Mercury
Decision VIII/33 of COP8
Adopted the programme and budget for and agreed to include a new Strategic Plan focus area on mercury
Agreed that in cooperation with UNEP to develop partnerships around the theme of environmentally friendly technologies and awareness raising regarding avoidance, use and disposal of mercury wastes; develop capacity building and technical assistance programmes to reduce and prevent pollution from mercury; and to develop guidelines on ESM of mecury waste with emphasis on sound disposal and remediation practices.

16. FURTHER INFORMATION Secretariat of the Basel Convention
International Environment House
15 Chemin des Anemones
Chatelaine CH-1219
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
Website: