Basel Convention

EGYPT

Status of Ratification/Accession/Acceptance/Approval:	07.01.1991 (AA)
Ratification/Acceptance of the Amendment to the Basel Convention:	Not yet as of 20.11.2002

Competent Authority	Focal Point
Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency 30 Misr Helwan El-Zyrae Rd., Maadi, Cairo tel: [phone] fax: [phone] e-mail: [e-mail] Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Dept. of Environment and Sustainable Development) Maspiro – Corniche El Nil, Cairo tel: [phone] fax: [phone]	Same as the Competent Authority

National Definition

“Wastes” are substances or objects which are disposed of or are intended to be disposed of or are required to be disposed of by the provisions of National Law. “Hazardous wastes” are wastes of activities and processes or its ashes which retain the properties of hazardous substances and have no subsequent original or alternative uses, like clinical waste from medical treatments or the waste resulting from the manufacture of the pharmaceutical products, drugs, organic solvents, printing materials. Egypt is in a preparatory process to regulate/control wastes defined as, or considered to be hazardous wastes by national legislation in accordance with Art. 1, para 1(b) of the Basel Convention. All wastes require special consideration when subjected to transboundary movement.

Data* on the Generation and Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes** and Other Wastes*** in 2000 (as reported)

		Quantities (in metric tonnes)
Generation	Total amount of hazardous wastesgenerated	170 000 ^1)
	Total amount of other wastesgenerated	No data
Transboundary Movement	Total amount of hazardous wastesand other wastesexported	3 880 ^2)
	Total amount of hazardous wastesand other wastesimported	No import

* Figures are rounded to the nearest integer.

** Covers wastes under Art. 1 (1)a (Annex I: Y1-Y45) and Art. 1 (1)b.

*** Covers wastes under (Annex II: Y46-Y47).

1) Estimated amounts. Consists of total amount of hazardous wastes generated under Art. 1 (1)a (Annex I: Y1-Y45): 20 000 mt + total amount of hazardous wastes generated under Art. 1 (1)b: 150 000 mt.

2) Clarification is pending from Egypt concerning the figure.

Restrictions on Transboundary Movement	Amendment to the Basel Convention The amendment to the Basel Convention (Decision III/1) has been implemented in Egypt. The national legislation prohibits the importation of hazardous waste from any country.
	Restrictions on export for final disposal and for recovery Export of hazardous waste to any country is not forbidden but restricted in accordance to the Basel Convention regulations.
	Restrictions on import for final disposal and for recovery Egypt restricts the import of hazardous wastes and other wastes for final disposal and for recovery. The relevant legislation is the Egyptian Environmental Law No. 4/1994 and its Executive Regulations. The restriction covers all countries/regions.
	Restrictions on transit Egypt restricts the transit of hazardous wastes and other wastes. The relevant legislation is the Egyptian Environmental Law No. 4/1994 and its Executive Regulations. The restriction covers all countries/regions. And all hazardous wastes. Restrictions made by Suez Canal Authority and other competent authorities regarding crossing of the national waterways are applicable.

Reduction and/or Elimination of Hazardous Waste Generation	National strategies/policies In preparation.
	Legislation, regulations and guidelines Egyptian Environmental Law No. 4/1994 and its Executive Regulations.
	Economic instruments/ initiatives In preparation.
	Others Source separation.

Transboundary Movement Reduction Measures	National strategies/policies In preparation.
	Legislation, regulations and guidelines Executive Regulations for Law No. 4 for the environment.
	Economic instruments/ initiatives In preparation.

Disposal/ Recovery Facilities

There is a secure landfill under construction for industrial hazardous wastes in Alexandria, for D1 operations; Sterilization utility for clinical wastes with a landfill site has been established and operated in Cairo, secure landfill after sterilization, for D1 operations; Small secure landfill for special waste resulting from a chemical plant in Alexandria (mercury contaminated soil) has been established and fully occupied; secure landfill of mercury contaminated waste, for D1 operations; Preparation phase for some cells in the sanitary landfills in Cairo that are to be utilized for hazardous waste disposal, for D1 operations; and Health care waste management (HCWM), incineration, for D10 operations.

Bilateral, Multilateral or Regional Agreements

None.

Technical Assistance and Training Available

The available sources are: Basel Convention Regional Centre for the Arab States for Training and Technology Transfer, P.O. Box 453, El Orman-Giza, Cairo, tel: [phone]-4836/38, fax: [phone]; Cairo University; Environmental Hazardous Mitigation Centre; Ain Shams University; Institute of Environment and Studies; Customs; and Suez Canal Authority.

Basel Convention

Country Fact Sheet