The seventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP-7) to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal was held from 25-29 October 2004, in Geneva, Switzerland.

COP-7 opened with a preparatory segment, from 25-27 October, followed by a high-level segment for ministers and heads of delegations, which took place from 28-29 October. Participants in the high-level segment engaged in an interactive discussion on partnerships for meeting the global waste challenge – the theme of COP-7. A key decision at COP-7 was to apply the terms of the Basel Convention to ships to be dismantled. COP-7 also adopted decisions on definitions of hazardous wastes, hazardous waste characteristics, a number of technical guidelines, guidance elements for bilateral, multilateral or regional agreements, and follow-up to the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD). Click here for the Earth Negotiations Bulletin coverage of this meeting.