Skip to content
REPORT (COM(2021)0709 – C90426/2021 – 2021/0367(COD))

On the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on shipments of waste and amending Regulations (EU) No 1257/2013 and (EU) No 2020/1056

A-9-2022-0290

Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety · Rapporteur: Pernille Weiss

Official HTML ↗ PDF DOCX
✦ In shortFull textProcedure & committee votes
✦ In short · AI summary of this text, generated 29 Sept 2026

Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text. The paragraph links open the paragraph a statement rests on — check the text itself before relying on it.

Parliament's amended version of the Commission proposal for a regulation on shipments of waste lays down rules to protect the environment and human health, and to support a circular economy and climate neutrality. It requires electronic exchange of shipment information through a central system, sets deadlines for competent authority decisions, and requires financial guarantees for shipments. It phases out exports of plastic waste to countries outside the Union and EFTA, and requires audits of facilities in destination countries. It strengthens inspections and enforcement against illegal shipments, including a Union risk-based targeting mechanism and an action plan. It requires the Commission to report on implementation every three years and to review the regulation by 31 December 2030.

Committee position. The Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety proposes amendments to the Commission proposal, including stricter rules on plastic waste exports, a central electronic system, audits of destination facilities, and stronger enforcement.

Key points

  1. The regulation aims to protect the environment and human health, contribute to a circular economy, resource efficiency, climate neutrality and zero pollution, and reduce administrative burden.
  2. Environmentally sound management is defined as taking all practicable steps to protect human health, the climate and the environment, including the treatment of waste.
  3. Shipments of mixed municipal waste destined for disposal are prohibited; shipments for recovery are subject to paragraph 2.
  4. Only notifiers with a permit or registration, or operators of experimental treatment trials or laboratories, may submit a prior written notification.
  5. The competent authority of destination must inform the notifier within 30 days if it cannot decide, and take a final decision within 60 days of notification.
  6. Written consent expires after two calendar years or a shorter period indicated by competent authorities.
  7. The Commission must assess a harmonised calculation method for financial guarantees by two years after entry into force and may adopt an implementing act by three years.
  8. Information, data and documents must be submitted and exchanged electronically via a central system or an interlinked national system.
  9. The export of plastic waste to countries to which the OECD Decision does not apply, other than EFTA Member States, is phased out by a date four years after entry into force.
  10. Exporters must ensure facilities in destination countries are audited by an independent certified third party, with audits no longer than two years before export.
  11. Member States must carry out inspections based on a Union risk-based targeting mechanism, and the Commission shall adopt implementing acts defining its elements.
  12. The waste shipment enforcement group shall propose an action plan to tackle illegal shipments within two years and update it at least every four years.

Who is affected

  • Economic operators, including notifiers, exporters, dealers and brokers, must comply with notification, guarantee and audit requirements.
  • Competent authorities in member states must process notifications, conduct inspections and share information electronically.
  • Recovery facilities in and outside the Union must meet pre-consent conditions and be audited.
  • Third countries receiving waste exports must provide evidence of environmentally sound management or face export prohibitions.

Figures and deadlines

  • 150 kg for laboratory analysis and 2000 kg for experimental treatment trials, or a higher amount agreed case-by-case.
  • 30 days for the competent authority to inform the notifier, and 60 days for a final decision.
  • Two calendar years for the validity of written consent.
  • Two years after entry into force to assess a harmonised calculation method for financial guarantees; three years to adopt an implementing act.
  • Four years after entry into force for the phase-out of plastic waste exports to certain countries.
  • Two years before export for the most recent audit of a facility.
  • Three years for the Commission's implementation report, and 31 December 2030 for the review of the regulation.
  • 6% maximum contamination for waste shipped within the Union under Basel entry B3011/EU3011.

Legal basis: Article 294(2) and Article 192(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.