Black Sea Convention

The Bucharest Convention (also called the Convention on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution) is a framework convention and its three protocols that were adopted by Diplomatic Conference on the Protection of the Black Sea against Pollution held in Bucharest on April 21-22, 1992. The convention was ratified by the legislative assemblies of all six Black Sea nations, and the convention was entered into force in 1994.

Contracting Parties

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Particpating Countries

• Bulgaria
• Georgia
• Romania
• Russian Federation
• Turkey
• Ukraine

Aims

To substantiate the general obligation of the Contracting Parties to prevent, reduce and control the pollution in the Black Sea in order to protect and preserve the marine environment and to provide legal framework for co-operation and concerted actions to fulfil this obligation.

• Prevent pollution by hazardous substances or matter
• Prevent, reduce and control the pollution from land-based sources
• Prevent, reduce and control the pollution of the marine environment from vessels in accordance with the generally accepted rules and standards
• Prevent, reduce and control the pollution of the marine environment resulting from emergency situations
• Prevent, reduce and control the pollution by dumping
• Prevent, reduce and control the pollution caused by or connected with activities on the continental shelf, including exploration and exploitation of natural resources
• Prevent, reduce and control the pollution from or through the atmosphere
• Protect the biodiversity and the marine living resources
• Prevent the pollution from hazardous wastes in transboundary movement and the illegal traffic thereof
• Provide framework for scientific and technical co-operation and monitoring activities

Protocols

The Protocol on Marine Protection from Land-Based Sources and Activities

Sought to prevent, control and eliminate land-based pollution and its damaging effects on the Black Sea ecosystem. The protocol states that countries shall adopt the precautionary principle with regard to the potential harm of any pollutant, as well as the polluter pays principle. It requires signatory countries to adopt national plans of action for source control measures, including emission controls, environmental quality standards, and timetables to achieve these goals. The protocol also calls for the formation of regional standards of practice for pollution control, including systems for monitoring, inspection and reporting.

The Protocol on Marine Pollution Control in Emergency Situations

The protocol covers pollution due to oil spills and other accidental discharges of hazardous substances. It requires members to the convention to establish guidelines to responding to such emergencies and also requires countries to create reporting procedures and means of preventing spills.

The Dumping Protocol

This Protocol regulated the manner in which substances could be disposed of into the Black Sea. The agreement called for the outright ban of dumping of hazardous substances such as organotin compounds, organohalogen compounds (DDT, DDE, DDD, PCB's), persistent organophosphorus compounds, mercury and mercury compounds, cadmium and cadmium compounds, persistent substances with proven toxic, carcinogenic, teratogenic ormutagenic properties, used lubricating oils, persistent synthetic materials which may float, sink or remain in suspension, radioactive substances and wastes, including used radioactive fuel, lead and lead compounds. The agreement required that the dumping of a second category, noxious substances, must be heavily regulated through the use of special permits. Dumping of all other waste would now require a general permit.