Block 15: Countries/States Concerned & Border Crossings
Block 15: Countries/States Concerned & Border Crossings
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Block 15 – Quick Reference
Countries/States Concerned & Border Crossing Points
Maps the complete geographic route of the movement from State of export through all transit States to the State of import.
Basel Basis
Article 6(1), Basel Convention; Annex V-A Block 15
Field Type
Country identification + competent authority codes + border crossing points
Required For
All Basel movements
What Block 15 Captures
Block 15 maps every country the waste will pass through from departure to final destination. For each country, three lines of information are required: the country name or ISO code, the competent authority code where required, and the specific border crossing or port of entry and exit. Missing transit countries is one of the most serious errors possible — a shipment passing through an undeclared transit state without prior consent is an illegal transboundary movement under the Basel Convention.
The Three Lines Per Country
Line (a) — Country name / ISO code:Use ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 codes. Examples: TT = Trinidad and Tobago, NL = Netherlands, DE = Germany, BE = Belgium.
Line (b) — Competent authority code:The code number of the competent authority in each country, where required by that country's national legislation. Check the Basel Convention country profiles for each State.
Line (c) — Border crossing or port:The specific point of exit from each country and point of entry into the next. For sea movements, this is the port of loading and port of discharge. For transit countries, give both entry and exit points.
How to Complete Block 15
1
Enter State of export
(column 1): ISO code, CA code if required, and port or border crossing of exit.
2
Enter each State of transit
(middle columns): ISO code, CA code, and both the entry and exit crossing points.
3
Enter State of import
(final column): ISO code, CA code if required, and port or border crossing of entry.
4
If more than three transit countries
are involved, attach additional country information as a numbered annex.
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Transit Consent Required
Under the Basel Convention, each transit State must provide written consent to the movement unless it has formally notified the Basel Secretariat that it does not require such consent. Omitting a transit country means no consent has been obtained — the movement is illegal in that jurisdiction.
Common Errors – Correct Approach
Wrong
Transit countries omitted
Correct
Every transit state must be declared — failure to do so constitutes illegal movement through that country
Wrong
Country name written without ISO code
Correct
Use ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 codes as required by vCOP8
Wrong
Port name given without specific terminal or customs point
Correct
Be as specific as possible — name the port and where applicable the specific terminal or customs entry point
Wrong
More than three transit countries without an annex
Correct
Attach a numbered annex for any transit countries beyond the three columns on the form
Wrong
Transshipment port listed as transit State when cargo is not offloaded
Correct
Transshipment at sea without offloading generally does not constitute transit — confirm with the shipping route and relevant authorities
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ISO code for Trinidad and Tobago?
▼
TT. The port of export will typically be Port of Port of Spain or Point Lisas Industrial Port (La Brea).
Does a ship passing through a canal count as transit?
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Passage through an international waterway such as the Panama Canal or Suez Canal is not generally treated as transit through that State for Basel purposes — but confirm with the relevant competent authorities for your specific route.
How do I find competent authority codes for each country?
▼
The Basel Convention Secretariat maintains a directory of competent authorities atbasel.int. DexMetal's Basel API also provides verified competent authority contact data for 41 countries.
Supporting Documents
- vCOP8 Official Form and Completion Instructions — Block 15– Official form and instructions from the Basel Convention.
- DexMetal Basel API– Verified competent authority contact data for 41 countries.
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DexMetal Expert Tip
Confirm your full shipping route — including all intermediate ports where cargo may be offloaded — before completing Block 15. A route change after consent is granted requires notification to all competent authorities. Build route certainty into your logistics planning before submitting.
← Back to
Block 14: Waste Identification Codes
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Block 16: Customs Offices (EU)
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