New EU law strengthens rules on shipping of waste

12 July 2007 16:14  [Source: ICIS news]

PARIS (ICIS news)--European companies must ensure that waste is properly handled during shipping and disposal and must no longer export hazardous waste to developing countries, according to EU legislation that entered into force on Thursday. 

 

The new waste shipment regulation on trans-boundary shipments of waste forces companies to ensure all waste is disposed of in a way that does not damage the environment.   

 

It requires EU member states to carry out inspections and gives them permission to run physical checks on shipments including the opening of containers.

 

Exports of hazardous waste from the EU to developing countries are banned under the regulation.

 

The European Commission (EC) decided to strengthen the 1993 waste shipment regulation after waste dumped by the Netherlands-based company Trafigura Beheer in the Ivory Coast last year was found to contain hydrogen sulphide.

 

By: Philippa Jones
+44 20 8652 3214

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