Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will undertake an investigation into the reasons that plastic waste declared illegal by the Malaysian Government was granted permission to be exported.

The UK authorities did not authorise this shipment. Under the current EU legislation there is no obligation on the exporter to obtain permission for this type of waste prior to its export. As part of the Resources and Waste Strategy, the Government has committed to review the regulatory framework covering waste shipments to ensure that we improve the quality of UK waste exports.

In this case the paperwork necessary to allow the import of the 42 containers had not been put in place by the importer. UK exporters have an obligation to ensure appropriate permissions from overseas authorities have been obtained prior to export of any waste. The 42 containers of waste, which are in the process of being returned to England, were exported to Malaysia without an “Approved Permit” import licence from the Malaysian Department of National Solid Waste Management. The return of these containers is being managed and financed by the parties involved in the original export to Malaysia as it is their responsibility.

The Government is deeply concerned about the illegal trade in waste, including reports of illegal plastic waste exported from the UK to Malaysia. Recognising the difficulties experienced by some countries in managing imports of plastic waste, the Queen’s Speech on 19 December last year included a commitment to ban the export of polluting plastic wastes to countries that are not members of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. We will consult this year on the date by which this should be achieved.