The National Environment Agency (“NEA“) recently sought feedback on the proposed transboundary movement control of electronic wastes. The proposal follows the adoption of the e-waste amendment at the 2022 Conference of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions. The consultation period ran from 1 April 2024 to 28 April 2024.
By way of background, Singapore is a Party to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal (“Basel Convention“). A key objective of the Basel Convention is to minimise transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and other wastes subject to the Basel Convention, consistent with their environmentally sound management. Seeking to extend this objective to all electronic wastes, the e-waste amendment was adopted at the 2022 Conference of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions. As a result, from 1 January 2025, all waste electrical and electronic equipment and its components, excluding used electrical and electronic equipment with potential for refurbishment, reuse or repair, will be subject to transboundary movement control.
As a Party to the Basel Convention, Singapore will be required to make legislative amendments to the Schedule of the Hazardous Waste (Control of Export, Import and Transit) Act 1997 to align with the Basel Convention text and annexes. As a result, from 1 January 2025, companies that import or export e-waste, or whose e-waste transits through Singapore, will be required to conduct the Prior Informed Consent (“PIC“) procedure specified under the Basel Convention.
The PIC procedure requires the exporter, through the competent authority (“CA“) of state of export, to seek consent from the CAs of the state of import and state(s) of transit prior to the commencement of any shipment. Companies will have to provide relevant documents (e.g. Basel notification form, contractual agreement, insurance/guarantee, transportation plan, etc.) so that the relevant CAs can review and provide their decision on the proposed import/export.
Parties were invited to provide feedback on, among others, any concerns relating to the PIC process and any clarification or suggestions to be provided by NEA that could help the parties in complying with the e-waste amendment.
Additionally, NEA will be reviewing and enhancing Singapore’s domestic control measures for the import, export, and transit of e-waste.
Click on the following link for more information:
- Press Release titled “Proposed Transboundary Movement Control of Electronic Wastes” (available on the Reach website at www.reach.gov.sg)
