Basel Convention

MAURITANIA

Status of Ratification/Accession/Acceptance/Approval:	16.08.1996 (a)
Ratification/Acceptance of the Amendment to the Basel Convention:	Not yet as of 20.11.2002

Competent Authority	Focal Point
Department of the Environment and Rural Development BP:170 Nouakchott, Mauritania tel: [phone] fax: [phone]	Same as the Competent Authority

National Definition

There is no national definition of waste and hazardous waste used for the purpose of transboundary movements of waste in Mauritania. There are no wastes defined as, or considered to be hazardous wastes by national legislation in accordance with Art. 1, para 1(b) of the Basel Convention. In Mauritania there are no wastes other than those pursuant to Art. 1 (1)a and/or Art. 1 (1)b of the Basel Convention that require special consideration when subjected to transboundary movement.

Restrictions on Transboundary Movement	Amendment to the Basel Convention The amendment to the Basel Convention (Decision III/1) has not been implemented in Mauritania.
	Restrictions on export for final disposal and for recovery Mauritania has no restrictions on the export of hazardous wastes and other wastes for final disposal and for recovery.
	Restrictions on import for final disposal and for recovery Mauritania has no restrictions on the import of hazardous wastes and other wastes for final disposal and for recovery.
	Restrictions on transit Mauritania has no restrictions on the transit of hazardous wastes and other wastes.

Reduction and/or Elimination of Hazardous Waste Generation	National strategies/policies There is no national strategy in regard to household and hospital wastes. At the moment the waste is disposed of outside the towns (in Nouadhibou, the country’s financial capital, the wastes are mostly discharged into the sea). For the city of Nouakchott, the national capital, there are plans to build a controlled landfill 35 km away from the city. Other kinds of wastes are not subject to any control; SOMELEC (the Mauritanian electric power company) discharges waste oil at random and there are other cases of this kind.
	Legislation, regulations and guidelines There is no specific legislation.
	Economic instruments/ initiatives Nil.
	Measures taken by industries/waste generators No measure has been taken by industries/waste generators to reduce their wastes or dispose of them in an environmentally sound manner.
	Others The Department of the Environment, which is responsible for drafting policy and implementing it, has done nothing in this regard because of the lack of financial and human resources.

Transboundary Movement Reduction Measures	National strategies/policies There is no national strategy.
	Legislation, regulations and guidelines There is no specific legislation.
	Economic instruments/ initiatives Nil.
	Measures taken by industries/waste generators None.
	Others The Department of the Environment, which is responsible for drafting policy and implementing it, has done nothing in this regard because of the lack of financial and human resources.

Disposal/ Recovery Facilities

Information could be obtained from the Department of the Environment and Rural Development BP:170 Nouakchott, Mauritania. Article 24 of the framework law on the environment (Act No. 200-045 of 20 July 2000) specifies that “activities that might affect the environment must have the authorization of the Minister responsible for the environment, based on an environmental impact study”. The Act still does not have associated implementation regulations.

Bilateral, Multilateral or Regional Agreements

None.

Technical Assistance and Training Available

The available source is the Department of the Environment and Rural Development, BP:170 Nouakchott, Mauritania.

Basel Convention

Country Fact Sheet