Basel Movement Document Guide

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Block 1

Notification Number

References the unique notification number from the approved Notification Document. This links the Movement Document to its parent consent and must match exactly — any discrepancy will trigger a customs hold at the point of export.

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Block 2

Serial/Total Number of Shipments

Records the sequential number of this shipment against the total consented — for example, shipment 3 of 12. Competent authorities use this to track cumulative quantities and verify the movement remains within approved limits.

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Block 3

Exporter – Notifier Information

Confirms the identity of the exporter initiating this specific shipment. Details must be identical to Block 1 of the Notification Document. Any name or address variation between the two documents is grounds for rejection at the border.

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Block 4

Importer – Consignee Information

Identifies the receiving facility for this shipment. Must match the consignee named in the original Notification Document exactly. Changes to the receiving facility require a formal amendment before the shipment departs.

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Block 5

Actual Quantity (Weight/Volume)

States the verified weight or volume of waste in this specific shipment. Unlike the Notification Document which records intended totals, this block captures the actual measured quantity confirmed at loading and must not exceed consented limits.

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Block 6

Actual Date of Shipment

Records the date the waste physically departed the exporter's facility. This date must fall within the valid consent period declared in the Notification Document. A shipment date outside the consent window constitutes an illegal transboundary movement.

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Block 7

Packaging & Handling

Confirms the packaging types used for this shipment and any special handling instructions applied at loading. Must align with the packaging codes declared in the Notification Document. Deviations require documentary justification and may require authority notification.

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Block 8 (a-c)

Carrier Signatures (Chain of Custody)

The most operationally critical block. Each carrier in the transport chain signs here upon taking physical custody of the waste. Signatures must be sequential and dated. A gap in the chain of custody is a Basel Convention violation and can void the financial guarantee.

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Block 9

Waste Generator-Producer

Identifies the original producer of the hazardous waste being shipped. Must be consistent with the Notification Document and supports the legal chain of accountability from waste origin through to final disposal or recovery at the destination facility.

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Block 10

Disposal/Recovery Facility

Names the licensed facility receiving and processing the waste. Must be the same facility named in the Notification Document consent. The facility's operating permit must remain valid through the date of actual receipt — expired permits invalidate the movement retroactively.

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Block 11

Disposal/Recovery Operation

States the Basel Annex IV D or R operation code describing how the waste will be treated. Must match the operation code consented in the Notification Document. A mismatch triggers enforcement action by the importing country competent authority.

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Block 12

Designation of Waste

Provides a plain-language description of the waste type accompanying this shipment. Customs and border authorities use this block for visual verification against physical consignment contents. Vague descriptions are a common cause of shipment delays at border crossings.

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Block 13

Physical Characteristics

Describes the physical state of the waste — solid, liquid, sludge, gaseous, or other — as loaded for this shipment. Physical state directly affects transport safety requirements and must be consistent with the packaging type declared in Block 7.

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Block 14

Waste Identification Codes

Lists the applicable Basel Annex codes, national waste codes, and UN hazard classifications for the waste in this shipment. Must be consistent with the Notification Document. Inconsistencies trigger formal queries from transit and importing country authorities.

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Block 15

Exporter's Declaration

The legally binding signature of the exporter certifying the accuracy of all information in the Movement Document at the time of shipment. An unsigned Block 15 renders the entire Movement Document invalid before the shipment has left the country.

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Block 16

Additional Information

A free-text field for supplementary information required by competent authorities — such as emergency contacts, insurance references, or special transit instructions. While optional in most jurisdictions, some countries mandate specific content here.

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Block 17

Importer Acceptance

Signed by the receiving facility upon physical arrival of the waste. Confirms the shipment was received, quantities match the Movement Document, and the facility accepts custody. Without a completed Block 17, the exporter retains legal responsibility for the waste.

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Block 18

Receipt at Facility (Gate Check)

Records the facility's formal gate check — the physical verification of the shipment upon entry. Documents date of arrival, quantity received, and condition of packaging. This block is the operational trigger for the disposal or recovery process to begin under the facility's permit.

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Block 19

Certification of Disposal/Recovery

The final and highest-stakes block. Signed by the receiving facility to certify that disposal or recovery has been completed as approved. Until this block is signed and returned to the exporter, the financial guarantee (bond) generally remains locked under Basel Article 6.

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COP-17 update: Annex IV and e-waste guidelines

COP-17 was held from 28 April to 9 May 2025 and adopted 28 Basel Convention decisions. Operators should treat those decisions as the current reference point when preparing Basel Convention files for transboundary movements.

BC-17/15 adopted a replacement Annex IV. The update is scheduled to become effective on 1 January 2030, following depositary communication on 1 July 2029. Until national implementation is confirmed, use current domestic rules but plan workflows, contracts, and recovery/disposal references for the 2030 Annex IV replacement.

BC-17/4 adopted new technical guidelines on transboundary movements of e-waste and used electrical and electronic equipment (EEE). For e-waste and used EEE movements, reference these COP-17 guidelines when preparing classification, PIC, ESM, and supporting documentation.

Practical operator note: for 2025–2029 files, record which Basel decision basis is being used, confirm competent-authority expectations, and revisit Annex IV and e-waste assumptions before shipment approval or renewal.