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### History of Illegal Basel Convention Violations in Kuching, Malaysia - June 1998 The Basel Convention was adopted in 1989 and entered into force in 1992, established to regulate the transboundary movement of hazardous waste. Japan acceded in 1993 and, following a conference in Kuching, Malaysia in 1998, imported 12,466 tons of etching waste liquids and spent catalysts. During the 2000s, recycling of waste containing lead, copper, and silver progressed at facilities like the Kosaka Smelter of the DOWA Group and the Naoshima Smelter of Mitsubishi Materials, but illegal shipments became a significant issue. A 2018 legal revision simplified import procedures, facilitating the import of PCBs and spent storage batteries. In the 2020s, 72,112 tons of hazardous waste were imported into Japan and properly processed at facilities operated by Mitsubishi Materials and JX Metals. The government is strengthening its monitoring system, aiming to balance the crackdown on illegal shipments
with environmental conservation.