Commission consults on illegal waste shipments

The European Commission is consulting on measures to improve waste shipment inspections. Stakeholders are being asked to give their views on recommendations made by two consultancy studies completed in 2010.

Other questions include whether there should be an EU law on inspections to strengthen waste shipment legislation, one of the consultants' recommendations. The commission also wants feedback on several inspection criteria, and asks whether customs should be given guidance to differentiate used goods from waste.

The consultation follows the adoption of a member state resolution http://www.endseurope.com/23991?referrer=bulletin&DCMP=EMC-ENDS-EUROPE-DAILY in May last year. The document raised "deep concerns" about the damage caused by illegal waste shipments and called for greater EU action to tackle the problem. The consultation was launched last week. Participants have until 30 March to respond.

Follow-up: Waste shipment consultation http://ec.europa.eu/environment/consultations/waste_shipment.htm

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