"Africa should bridge the technology divide."

From p. 1 of response by African Group to Basel Secretariat. 2015. ‘Decision BC-12/5 | Technical Guidelines on Transboundary Movements of Electrical and Electronic Waste and Used Electrical and Electronic Equipment, in Particular Regarding the Distinction between Waste and Non-Waste under the Basel Convention’. http://www.basel.int/TheConvention/ConferenceoftheParties/Meetings/COP12/tabid/4248/mctl/ViewDetails/EventModID/8051/EventID/542/xmid/13027/Default.aspx.

“Discussions on the issue of obsolete technologies have to date focused on a particular technology, namely equipment containing cathode ray tubes. Further discussion on this issue would benefit from clarity on the practical criteria that would apply in determining whether a technology ought to be excluded from transboundary movements of used equipment destined for failure analysis, repair and refurbishment as a non-waste.

We do not support a uniform ban of the movement of used equipment containing cathode ray tubes (CRTs). CRTs are still used in some medical and broadcasting equipment for public purposes, and many of them are expensive and have a long product life. There is a need for repair for those CRTs.
Furthermore, non-consumer out-of-production electronic equipment that is still in use may depend on older technology replacement parts to function where there is no "drop-in" newer technology replacement.

A uniform ban on transboundary movement of equipment containing CRT technologies could result in used equipment being supported with these listed spare parts being prematurely scrapped for final disposal before the end of their useful working life. This is particularly true for products with longer useful working lives, such medical devices.”

From p. 2 of response by Australia to Basel Secretariat. 2015. ‘Decision BC-12/5 | Technical Guidelines on Transboundary Movements of Electrical and Electronic Waste and Used Electrical and Electronic Equipment, in Particular Regarding the Distinction between Waste and Non-Waste under the Basel Convention’. http://www.basel.int/TheConvention/ConferenceoftheParties/Meetings/COP12/tabid/4248/mctl/ViewDetails/EventModID/8051/EventID/542/xmid/13027/Default.aspx.

“In some instances, small CRT monitors can still be used in medical devices and such devices are perfectly fit for refurbishment. Therefore, any ban on transboundary movements of CRT based technologies should not be extended to medical devices including CRT.”

From p. 3 of response by Global Diagnostic Imaging, Healthcare IT & Radiation Therapy Trade Association (DITTA) to Basel Secretariat. 2015. ‘Decision BC-12/5 | Technical Guidelines on Transboundary Movements of Electrical and Electronic Waste and Used Electrical and Electronic Equipment, in Particular Regarding the Distinction between Waste and Non-Waste under the Basel Convention’. http://www.basel.int/TheConvention/ConferenceoftheParties/Meetings/COP12/tabid/4248/mctl/ViewDetails/EventModID/8051/EventID/542/xmid/13027/Default.aspx.

“Cathode Ray Tubes (CRTs) are also used in some medical and broadcasting equipment for public purposes, and many of them are expensive and have a long product life to ascertain environmental and economic feasibility of such sectors. Occasionally, CRTs in these equipment need to be repaired to extend their life. Thus uniform ban on the movement of used equipment containing CRTs for repair and refurbishment may lead to increase in e-waste by curtailing their extendable life.”

From p. 7 of response by India to Basel Secretariat. 2015. ‘Decision BC-12/5 | Technical Guidelines on Transboundary Movements of Electrical and Electronic Waste and Used Electrical and Electronic Equipment, in Particular Regarding the Distinction between Waste and Non-Waste under the Basel Convention’. http://www.basel.int/TheConvention/ConferenceoftheParties/Meetings/COP12/tabid/4248/mctl/ViewDetails/EventModID/8051/EventID/542/xmid/13027/Default.aspx.

“We support the suggested text in para 31(b) that CRTs cannot be exported for repair, because it is an obsolete technology. We do not support a general text on obsolete technologies, as this may impair future reuse and waste minimization. But for the particular case of used CRTs which is an obsolete technology that contains a large amount of toxic lead, we believe that not allowing the export for repair as non-waste can prevent dumping of hazardous waste.”

From p. 1-2 of response by Norway to Basel Secretariat. 2015. ‘Decision BC-12/5 | Technical Guidelines on Transboundary Movements of Electrical and Electronic Waste and Used Electrical and Electronic Equipment, in Particular Regarding the Distinction between Waste and Non-Waste under the Basel Convention’. http://www.basel.int/TheConvention/ConferenceoftheParties/Meetings/COP12/tabid/4248/mctl/ViewDetails/EventModID/8051/EventID/542/xmid/13027/Default.aspx.