The Focal Point to the Basel Convention in Germany, which was established under the Waste Shipment Act (AbfVerbrG), issues permits for transfrontier shipment of wastes through Germany, answers queries, and advises businesses and government agencies.
Laws and regulations concerning transfrontier shipment of waste are based on the Basel Convention. The EU has transposed the procedural rules of Basel Convetion into directly applicable European legislation taking into account OECD Council Decision C(92)39/ FINAL.
As late as the mid 1970s, hazardous waste has been disposed of illegally in Germany and abroad. This scandalous situation prompted a worldwide desire to ban or control transfrontier waste shipments. The ensuing lengthy political process resulted in a complex system of regulations at the national, European and international level.
