Basel Convention

Ukraine Publishes Baseline Monitoring Report on Resolution No. 1067 for Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Waste

Ukraine’s Ministry of Economy has evaluated the first year of Cabinet Resolution No. 1067 on written consents and opinions for transboundary hazardous-waste shipments, finding high operator uptake, significant shipment volumes and a reduction in customs violations with minimal administrative cost per operator. This confirms that the new hazardous-waste permitting regime is stable and functioning as designed, signalling continued regulatory scrutiny rather than imminent reform while reinforcing the need for operators to maintain compliance with existing procedures.

6 May 2026, 19:15me.gov.uaUkraine

Council of the EU Revises April 2026 Environment Work Programme

The Council of the EU has published a revised environment work programme for April 2026, scheduling working party discussions on CO2 standards for cars and vans, a new ECHA basic regulation, the BBNJ Directive, and key international conventions on air pollution, environmental impact assessment, public participation, hazardous waste, and climate change. This timetable signals when EU negotiators will shape positions on major climate, chemicals, and biodiversity files, helping compliance teams anticipate forthcoming policy shifts and plan engagement around these international and EU legislative processes.

30 Apr 2026, 06:23data.consilium.europa.euEuropean Union

Basel Convention Secretariat Issues Draft OEWG Work Programme for 2028–2029 Biennium

Document **UNEP/CHW/OEWG.15/14** (24 February 2026) presents a draft work programme for the Basel Convention Open‑ended Working Group (OEWG) for the 2028–2029 biennium, to be discussed at OEWG‑15 in June 2026 and then adopted, in revised form, by COP‑18. The draft highlights high‑priority agenda items such as improving the prior informed consent procedure, updating POPs and e‑waste technical guidelines, and further work on plastic waste, nanomaterial‑containing wastes and used textiles, signalling medium‑term policy focus areas without yet establishing new binding obligations.

24 Apr 2026, 09:16docs.un.orgGlobal

EU Council Updates March 2026 Environment Work Programme

In March 2026, the Council of the European Union updated its environment work programme, setting a packed March agenda for the Working Party on the Environment across climate, zero‑pollution and waste policy files. For compliance teams, this signals near-term Council negotiations on CO2 vehicle standards, packaging waste rules, LULUCF accounting and Basel Convention implementation, indicating where EU environment policy decisions are likely to move next.

21 Apr 2026, 17:43data.consilium.europa.euEuropean Union

UK: Environment Agency Updates Waste Export Standards for Indonesia and Malaysia After Malaysian WEEE Import Ban

The UK has updated waste export guidance to reflect Malaysia's total ban on electronic waste imports effective February 2026 and tightened licensing requirements for Indonesian plastic exports. Companies must immediately audit disposal chains to reroute electronic waste and ensure Indonesian shipments meet new 2% contamination thresholds to maintain producer responsibility compliance.

5 Apr 2026, 05:51gov.ukUnited KingdomIndonesiaMalaysia

England Updates Charges For International Waste Shipment Notifications

England's Environment Agency has implemented CPI-linked annual increases for international waste shipment notification charges effective April 2026. Companies exporting hazardous or complex waste must integrate rising administrative costs and substance-specific surcharges into their long-term logistics and compliance budgets.

4 Apr 2026, 11:02gov.ukUnited Kingdom

England Environment Agency Progress Update on Waste Pneumatic Tyre Export Controls (March 2026)

The Environment Agency is expanding its rigorous waste tyre export compliance regime to all Green List waste shipments starting July 2026. Exporters face increased operational risk and reporting burdens as mandatory digital tracking and stricter destination standards become the new baseline for international waste trade.

2 Apr 2026, 10:18gov.ukUnited Kingdom

EU Commission Recommends Flexible DIWASS Transition For Annex VII Green‑Listed Waste Until End 2026

EU and national authorities have deferred mandatory digital reporting for green-listed waste shipments until the end of 2026. This extension provides a vital window for operators to align internal logistics and data systems with new EU-wide digital traceability standards.

29 Mar 2026, 16:56mst.dkEuropean UnionDenmark

Belgium: Flanders (OVAM) Announces EVOA Webinars on DIWASS Registration Obligations

Flanders has initiated mandatory registration for the DIWASS system to implement the revised EU Waste Shipment Regulation entering into force in May 2026. Businesses must verify that all supply chain partners are registered to prevent cross-border logistics delays and meet new digital traceability requirements.

28 Mar 2026, 18:26ovam.vlaanderen.beEuropean UnionBelgium

Japan Revises Mercury Act Article 2(2) Requirements Ordinance

Japan updated the Mercury Pollution Prevention Act's implementing ordinance in March 2026 to refine definitions for mercury-added products and hazardous wastes. Businesses must re-evaluate product portfolios and waste management protocols to ensure alignment with clarified compliance obligations and export controls.

27 Mar 2026, 16:20kanpo.go.jpJapan

EU Council Working Party Prepares Basel Convention Position On Tyres And POP Waste

The EU is finalizing its negotiating position for the June 2026 Basel Convention meeting to advocate for stricter international waste controls on tyres and persistent organic pollutants. Businesses should anticipate tighter global restrictions on the transboundary movement and disposal of these materials, impacting long-term waste management and circularity planning.

21 Mar 2026, 16:16data.consilium.europa.euEuropean Union

BRS Secretariat Issues Exploratory Study on Interlinkages Between the Montreal Protocol and the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions

The BRS Secretariat has published a study mapping regulatory interlinkages between the Montreal Protocol and the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Conventions. This signals a shift toward integrated global enforcement and technical alignment across chemical production, trade, and waste management for ODS, HFCs, and PFAS.

19 Mar 2026, 19:20brsmeas.orgGlobal

BRS Secretariat Information Note on Circularity, Life‑Cycle Approaches and the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions

The BRS Secretariat has issued guidance linking the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Conventions to circular economy and life-cycle approaches to support national policy integration. This signals a global shift toward operationalizing chemicals and waste treaties through national circularity mandates, requiring closer alignment between product design and end-of-life management.

18 Mar 2026, 16:16basel.intGlobal

BRS Secretariat Holds Regional Workshop in Kenya on Basel and Stockholm Convention National Reporting

The BRS Secretariat is intensifying capacity-building in Africa ahead of the August 2026 deadline for the 6th Stockholm Convention national reporting cycle. Companies should anticipate more rigorous data requests and increased regulatory oversight regarding the production, trade, and lifecycle management of persistent organic pollutants across the region.

18 Mar 2026, 15:55brsmeas.orgKenyaAFR

European Commission Confirms 6% Contamination Threshold for Plastic Waste Entry EU3011

The European Commission has confirmed a binding 6% contamination threshold for green-listed plastic waste shipments, effective May 2026. Businesses must implement rigorous sorting and quality controls to maintain access to simplified shipment procedures and prevent costly administrative delays.

12 Mar 2026, 09:43eur-lex.europa.euEuropean Union

EU Commission Confirms 21 May 2026 Go-Live for DIWASS Waste Shipment System

The EU Digital Waste Shipment System becomes mandatory for all cross-border waste documentation and exchange starting May 21, 2026. Companies must align internal IT systems and registration protocols with national access models by early 2026 to avoid shipment delays and maintain regulatory compliance.

11 Mar 2026, 17:08environment.ec.europa.euEuropean Union

EU Council Working Party Reviews Rotterdam Convention COP-12 Calls for Information

The EU is coordinating strategic responses to global information requests that will shape the next phase of international trade restrictions for hazardous chemicals and pesticides. These submissions will directly influence future substance listings and enforcement priorities, impacting global market access and supply chain compliance for regulated materials.

9 Mar 2026, 18:57data.consilium.europa.euGlobalEuropean Union

Denmark: Danish EPA Hosts DIWASS Webinar Ahead Of Waste Shipment Regulation (EU) 2024/1157 Entry Into Force

Denmark is finalizing implementation measures for the EU Waste Shipment Regulation and the DIWASS digital system ahead of the May 2026 deadline. Operators must transition to mandatory electronic data exchange and prepare for stricter transboundary waste controls to ensure continued market access and avoid shipment delays.

2 Mar 2026, 13:12mst.dkDenmarkEuropean Union

Basel Convention Guidance: Integrating Actions into UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks

The Basel Convention Secretariat has released formal guidance to integrate hazardous waste management priorities into national UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks. This initiative embeds waste compliance into broader national development agendas, signaling more integrated infrastructure planning and heightened enforcement risks in emerging markets.

14 Feb 2026, 14:21brsmeas.orgGlobal

UK Environment Agency Details Annex VII Documentation Requirements for Green List Waste Shipments

The UK Environment Agency has updated mandatory Annex VII documentation for green list waste shipments to ensure compliance with transboundary waste controls. Businesses must integrate these documentation requirements into logistics protocols to prevent shipment delays and mitigate legal risks associated with waste exports.

5 Feb 2026, 16:55gov.ukUnited Kingdom