Delay in Amendment of Shipment Rule Impacted Scrap Plastic Trade

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The plastic scrap exports from Europe to non-OECD countries continue to remain hampered, due to delay in amending Waste Shipment Rule (WSR). In the absence of the amendment, many European countries have blocked shipments of plastic scrap to non-OECD countries. Incidentally, WSR established conditions of trade between the two regions.

The uncertainties began to creep up following the new Basel Convention rules, which came into effect this January. Accordingly, the export of sorted clean plastic waste that falls under the category B3011 to any non-OECD country must have advance approval by importing authorities.

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The European Commission had informed every non-OECD country to submit its views on approval of plastic scrap shipment from Europe on a collective basis, rather than every individual country sending their responses. Several countries, including Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia had responded saying that import control systems are already in place.

However, all the countries have not responded so far, thus making it difficult for the European authorities to make necessary changes to WSR, so as to facilitate smooth trade. As per sources, the amendment to WSR is likely to take place only during the later part of the current year.