2. International regulatory framework for PG

In this section, we present the main international conventions and directives relating to phosphogypsum.

The Basel Convention (United Nations Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal, 1989) considers as non-hazardous waste phosphogypsum (gypsum waste from industrial chemical processes) which does not contain hazardous substances to such an extent that they exhibit one or more of the hazard characteristics listed in Annex III.

In 1991, in response to the Basel Convention, the Organization of African Unity (OAU) drew up a convention known as the "Bamako Convention" on "the prohibition of the import into Africa of hazardous wastes and on the control of transboundary movements and management of hazardous wastes produced in Africa", bearing in mind that phosphogypsum is not listed as a hazardous...