NEA seeks feedback on proposed transboundary movement control of electronic wastes

29 April 2024

The National Environment Agency (“NEA”) has sought feedback on the proposed transboundary movement control of electronic wastes (“e-waste”) arising from the adoption of the e-waste amendment at the 2022 Conference of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions. Among other things, the proposed amendment would require companies that import or export e-waste, or whose e-waste transits through Singapore to carry out the Prior Informed Consent (“PIC”) procedure specified under the Basel Convention from 1 January 2025. The consultation closed on 28 April 2024.

Proposed e-waste control

In a move to ensure environmentally sound management of all electronic wastes, the e-waste amendment was adopted at the 2022 Conference of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions. The adoption subjects all waste electrical and electronic equipment and its components to transboundary movement control from 1 January 2025.

As a party to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal (“Basel Convention”), Singapore will be required to make legislative amendments to the Schedule to the Hazardous Waste (Control of Export, Import and Transit) Act 1997 to align with the Basel Convention text and annexes, such that all waste electrical and electronic equipment and its components are to be classified under Annex II (Other Wastes) or Annex VIII (Hazardous Wastes) of the Schedule. With this amendment, from 1 January 2025, companies that import or export e-waste, or whose e-waste transits through Singapore will be required to carry out the PIC procedure specified under the Basel Convention.

In addition to the legislative amendments consulted on, NEA will also review and enhance domestic control measures for the import, export, and transit of e-waste. This could include expanding the scope of Harmonised System (“HS”) codes to be controlled by NEA for Tradenet declarations, streamlining supporting documents required for Tradenet declarations, and disseminating guidance to the industry.

Background

One of the key objectives 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. NEA, as the Competent Authority to the Basel Convention, controls the transboundary movement of hazardous waste and other wastes as listed in the Convention to ensure compliance with international obligations.

Reference materials

The following materials are available on the REACH website www.reach.gov.sg and Basel Convention website www.basel.int: