Basel Convention

PANAMA

Status of Ratification/Accession/Acceptance/Approval:	22.02.1991 (r)
Ratification of the Amendment to the Basel Convention:	07.10.1998

Competent Authority	Focal Point
Department of Environmental Health Ministry of Health Calle Gorgas, Ancon, Edificio 265 Apartado 2048, Panama 1 tel: [phone]/9412 fax: [phone] e-mail: [e-mail]	Department of Environmental Health Ministry of Health Calle Gorgas, Ancon, Edificio 265 Apartado 2048, Panama 1 tel: [phone]/9412 fax: [phone]

National Definition

There is a national definition of waste used for the purpose of transboundary movements of waste. Toxic or pollutant wastes are any substance, radioactive or not, with elements that immediately or after some delay are capable of causing harm to human health or to any kind of animal or plant life, or produce effects harmful to the ecological balance of the country. 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 Panama 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 been implemented in Panama.
	Restrictions on export for final disposal and for recovery Panama has no restrictions on the export of hazardous wastes and other wastes for final disposal and for recovery.
	Restrictions on import for final disposal Panama restricts the import of hazardous wastes and other wastes for final disposal. The relevant legislations are the Act No. 8 of 7 June 1991, which prohibits the importation of toxic or pollutant wastes into the territory of the Republic of Panama; and the Act No. 13 of 21 April 1995, Regional Agreement on Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes, which covers Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua.
	Restrictions on import for recovery Panama restricts the import of hazardous wastes and other wastes for recovery. The relevant legislation is the Act No. 8 of 7 June 1991, which prohibits the importation of toxic or pollutant wastes into the territory of the Republic of Panama.
	Restrictions on transit In Panama the transit of hazardous wastes and other wastes by land is forbidden and it must comply with registration and control in order to be able to transit via the Panama Canal.

Reduction and/or Elimination of Hazardous Waste Generation	National strategies/policies Framework Law on the Management of Hazardous Wastes, which includes articles on waste minimisation.
	Legislation, regulations and guidelines The “Regulatory Framework of Hazardous Wastes Management” is under discussion.
	Economic instruments/ initiatives In preparation.

Disposal/ Recovery Facilities

Disposal facilities Cerro Patacon sanitary landfill, sanitary landfill for non-hazardous wastes. Further information could be obtained from “Direccion Municipal de Aseo Urbano y Domiciliario”. Recovery/recycling/re-use facilities Panama refinery, refining of petroleum and its derivatives (R9); Eco-Klean S.A., processing of waste oil (R9); Derivados de Petroleo S.A., industry for asphalt emulsion (R1); and Procesos y Analisis Metalogicos, S.A., processing and analysis of metals (PB) (R4).

Bilateral, Multilateral or Regional Agreements

Regional Agreement on the Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama), effective 21 April 1995, ban on importation from non-Party countries.

Technical Assistance and Training Available

None.

Basel Convention

Country Fact Sheet