The Ban Amendment ratified by St. Kitts and Nevis, other countries urged to act accordingly

The small twin-island state of St. Kitts and Nevis has deposited their ratification of the Ban Amendment to the Basel Convention, thereby becoming the 96th country to ratify the document. The Ban Amendment, adopted by the parties to the Basel Convention in 1995, prohibits the export of hazardous wastes from parties and other member states of European Union, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and Liechtenstein to all other countries.

However, more than 20 countries, including large economies such as Russia, Brazil, Australia, Japan and Canada, are expected to ratify the document, so that the prohibition would enter into the force of international law. Moreover, the United States has not ratified the Basel Convention, nor the Ban Amendment and still allows the export of hazardous e-waste to developing countries.