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Press Release
Waste Disposal (Amendment) Ordinance 2006 gazetted
The control in relation to the Basel Ban will take immediate effect upon the gazettal of the Waste Disposal (Amendment) Ordinance 2006 today (April 7), a spokesman for the Environmental Protection Department said.
The Basel Ban applies to the export of hazardous waste from developed countries which are members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the European Community and the Liechtenstein (the banned countries) to developing countries. These banned countries are listed in the new Schedule 9 of the Ordinance.
One of the major objectives of the Ban is to minimise adverse impacts associated with the transboundary movements of hazardous waste from developed countries to developing countries.
"The new provision of the Waste Disposal Ordinance (WDO) sets out in clear terms that EPD shall refuse any application for permit to import hazardous waste from the banned countries," he said.
"The existing control under the WDO requires a valid permit issued by the Director of Environmental Protection for the import or export of any hazardous waste," he said.
"Since December 1998, we have administratively implemented the Basel Ban in Hong Kong by exercising the power not to grant import permits for hazardous waste shipments from the banned countries," he added.
Any person who imports or exports hazardous waste without a valid permit is liable to a fine of $200,000 and six months' imprisonment for the first offence, and to a fine of $500,000 and two years' imprisonment for the second or a subsequent offence.
The spokesman said EPD was committed to curbing illegal transboundary waste movements by imposing stringent control at various port control areas. EPD's vigorous enforcement actions against illegal import of hazardous waste from the banned countries resulted in 53 prosecutions during 2004-2005.
"The move to provide legal backing for controlling transboundary movement of hazardous waste will send a strong signal to the international community regarding Hong Kong's collaborative efforts to enforcing the Basel Ban," he said.
Through the latest amendment to the WDO, the two schedules defining the waste types subject to import and export control, namely the Sixth and Seventh Schedules, have also been updated in line with the latest requirements of the Basel Convention.
Waste traders, importers and exporters are advised to take note of the new statutory requirements and should refuse to accept or be involved in any shipment order to import hazardous waste from the banned countries.
The relevant regulatory control requirements are available at EPD's website at
http://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/waste/guide_ref/guide_wiec.html.
Enquiries can be made to EPD's hotline at 2755 5462.
Ends/Friday, April 7, 2006
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