Basel Convention

ROMANIA

Status of Ratification/Accession/Acceptance/Approval:	27.02.1991 (a)
Acceptance of the Amendment to the Basel Convention:	17.07.2002

Competent Authority	Focal Point
Ministry of Waters and Environmental Protection Libertatii 12, Sector 5, Bucharest tel: [phone] fax: [phone] e-mail: [e-mail]; web site: www.mappm.ro	Same as the Competent Authority

National Definition

In Romania there is no national definition of waste used specially for the purposes of transboundary movements. However, there are two main sets of definitions for wastes and hazardous wastes. One is laid down in the Law on Environmental Protection, which defines waste as substances resulting from biological or technical processes, that cannot be used; and hazardous wastes in accordance with a short list of characteristics. The other set is based on the Emergency Ordinance for the Waste Regime and is generally based on the relevant definitions of the Basel Convention and the pertinent EU Directives. A definition of wastes and residues is contained in the Government Decision dealing with import of wastes of every description. This covers any materials having no value for use, and household wastes. In Romania there is no national definition of hazardous waste used specially for the purposes of transboundary movements (see above). The Basel Convention definition of the hazardous waste is used. 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 Romania there are no wastes other than those pursuant to Art. 1 (1)a and/or Art. 1 (1)b that 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	860 892 ^1)
	Total amount of other wastesgenerated	3 439 747 ^2)
Transboundary Movement	Total amount of hazardous wastesand other wastesexported	12 000
	Total amount of hazardous wastesand other wastesimported

* 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) Figure refers to total amount of hazardous wastes generated under Art. 1 (1)a (Annex I: Y1-Y45).

2) Consists of wastes collected from households (Y46): 3 422 355 mt + residues arising from the incineration of household wastes (Y47): 17 392 mt.

Restrictions on Transboundary Movement	Amendment to the Basel Convention Romania has not ratified the Amendment to the Basel Convention (Decision III/1). Nevertheless there are provisions for implementation of the amendment in the Romanian legislation.
	Restrictions on transit and export for final disposal and for recovery Romania has no restrictions on the transit as well as export of hazardous wastes and other wastes for final disposal and for recovery. According to art. 16 (alin 2) of the Law on Environmental Protection no. 137 / 1995, the export and transit of hazardous wastes may take place in accordance with agreements to which Romania is a party. In case of export, the responsible operator must ensure that international obligations are observed and that the consent of the recipient country has been obtained.
	Restrictions on import for final disposal Romania restricts the import of hazardous wastes and other wastes for final disposal. In accordance with the Law on Environmental Protection, the import of any kind of wastes is prohibited, with the exception of certain categories of wastes that constitute secondary resources of useful raw materials.
	Restrictions on import for recovery Romania restricts the import of hazardous wastes and other wastes for recovery. The import of wastes is permitted in accordance with regulations imposed by norms proposed by the central environmental protection authority and approved by the Government. 15 categories of materials to which this exception is applicable are defined in a list annexed to the pertinent Government Decision, which also sets out a number of additional conditions under which an exception to the import prohibition is granted.

Reduction and/or Elimination of Hazardous Waste Generation	National strategies/policies The Emergency Ordinance no. 78 / 2000 on Waste regime was approved on 16 June 2000. In accordance with art. 8 of this Emergency Ordinance the national competent authority shall elaborate Plans for management of wastes. A draft of National Strategy for Waste Management and a National Plan shall be elaborated and approved in 2002. In accordance with art. 19 lit a) of the Emergency Ordinance no. 78/2000, producers of wastes shall adopt technologies and solutions for reduction and elimination of generation of wastes.
	Legislation, regulations and guidelines In accordance with art. 54 of the Emergency Ordinance no. 78 / 2000, the drafts of Governmental Decisions for regulation of management of used oils, management of used batteries, incineration of wastes, landfills, and packaging and waste packaging are in preparation. The Governmental Decision no. 173 / 2000 on regulation of PCB and similar compounds was adopted on 13 March 2000.
	Economic instruments/ initiatives Economic instruments for reduction and elimination of generation of wastes are in preparation. These economic instruments shall be in relationships with provisions of the Law on Environmental Found no. 73 / 2000 as amended by Emergency Governmental Ordinance 93 / 2001.

Transboundary Movement Reduction Measures

The measures taken for reduction of the amount of hazardous wastes and other wastes subject to the transboundary movement are same as the measures taken for reduction and/or elimination of hazardous waste generation.

Disposal / Recovery Facilities

Disposal facilities None. Recovery/recycling/re-use facilities SC Metanef SA – Neferal SA, Calea Floreasca, 91 – 111, Sector 5, Bucharest, recovery of lead batteries (R4).

Bilateral, Multilateral or Regional Agreements

None.

Technical Assistance and Training Available

Information is not available.

Basel Convention

Country Fact Sheet