UPSC Express

Hazardous Substance Management

To promote safe management and use of hazardous substance in order to avoid damage to the health and env.

International conventions

• Basel convention – control the transboundary mvmt of hazardous waste
  • Non binding agreement
  • Reduce the movement of hazardous waste between nations
  • Prevent transfer of hazardous waste from developed to less developed country
  • USA, UK dumping e-waste in India, Pak and China
• Rotterdam convention – Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Procedure for certain chemicals and pests in intl trade
  • Legally binding
  • Shared responsibility in relation to importation of hazardous chemicals
  • Like using proper labelling, directions on safe handling etc.
• Stockholm convention – Persistent Organic pollutants (POP)
  • Legally binding
  • Under aegis of UNEP
  • POPs are chemical substances that persist in the environment, bio accumulate through the food web and pose a risk of causing adverse effects to human health and the environment
• Minamata convention on mercury