Waste shipment
- Document symbol
- G/LIC/N/3/GBR/5
- Original language
- English
- Published on
- 25/09/2025
Outline of Systems
Q1. Give a brief description of each licensing system as a whole and, with respect to each, reply to the following questions as relevant, placing all of the material with respect to a given system in sequence together, and using cross references as appropriate when elements which have already been described are also present in another system.
The import of waste into the UK is controlled under a licensing system administered by the UK competent authorities. Its requirements implement the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal (‘Basel Convention’), and the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Decision of the Council on the OECD Legal Instruments Control of Transboundary Movements of Wastes Destined for Recovery Operations (‘OECD Decision’).
This licensing system is known as the prior informed consent procedure, which requires both the exporting and destination competent authority to give consent to a transboundary movement of waste before it can take place.
Purposes and Coverage of Licensing
Q2. Identify each licensing system maintained and state what products, appropriately grouped, are covered.
The prior informed consent procedure applies to hazardous waste and certain ‘other wastes’ listed in the relevant annexes of the Basel Convention and OECD Decision. Waste that is subject to the prior informed consent is typically referred to as ‘notifiable waste’.
*Paragraph 2 of Article 1 of the Basel Convention sets out that ‘other wastes’ shall be considered as wastes that belong to any category contained in Annex II of the Convention that are subject to transboundary movement.
Q3. The system applies to goods originating in and coming from which countries?
These rules apply to hazardous waste and other wastes imported from all countries that are party to the Basel Convention or to which the OECD Decision applies.
Q4. Is the licensing intended to restrict the quantity or value of imports, and if not, what are its purposes? Have alternative methods of accomplishing the purposes been considered and if so which? Why have they not been adopted?
The prior informed consent procedure does not restrict the quantity or value of imports. It implements the UK’s obligations as a party to the Basel Convention and the OECD Decision. Prior informed consent is intended to give countries greater control over the waste they are importing, with the aim of protecting human health and the environment.
Q5. Cite the law, regulation and/or administrative order under which the licensing is maintained. Is the licensing statutorily required? Does the legislation leave designation of products to be subjected to licensing to administrative discretion? Is it possible for the government (or the executive branch) to abolish the system without legislative approval?
The UK's legal framework for this licensing system is the assimilated Regulation (EC) No. 1013/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council on shipments of waste (‘the Regulations’) as amended by the International Waste Shipments (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, The International Waste Shipments (Amendment of Regulation (EC) No. 1013/2006) Regulations 2020, The International Waste Shipments (Amendment of Regulation (EC) Nos. 1013/2006 and 1418/2007) Regulations 2021, and The International Waste Shipments (Amendment) Regulations 2024.
Regulation (EC) No. 1013/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council on shipments of waste continues to apply in Northern Ireland by virtue of the Windsor Framework.
Procedures
Q6. For products under restriction as to the quantity or value of imports (whether applicable globally or to a limited number of countries or whether established bilaterally or unilaterally):
Q6.I. Is information published, and where, concerning allocation of quotas and formalities of filing applications for licences? If not, how is it brought to the attention of possible importers? Of governments and export promotion bodies of exporting countries and their trade representatives? Is the overall amount published? The amount allocated to goods from each country? The maximum amount allocated to each importer? How to request any exceptions or derogations from the licensing requirement?
Q6.II. How is the size of the quotas determined: on a yearly, six-monthly or quarterly basis? Are there cases where the size of quota is determined on a yearly basis but licences are issued for imports on a six-monthly or quarterly basis? In the latter case, is it necessary for importers to apply for fresh licence on a six-monthly or quarterly basis?
Q6.III. Are licences allotted for certain goods partly or only to domestic producers of like goods? What steps are taken to ensure that licences allocated are actually used for imports? Are unused allocations added to quotas for a succeeding period? Are the names of importers to whom licences have been allocated made known to governments and export promotion bodies of exporting countries upon request? If not, for what reason? (Indicate products to which replies relate.)
Q6.IV. From the time of announcing the opening of quotas, as indicated in I above, what is the period of time allowed for the submission of applications for licences?
Q6.V. What are the minimum and maximum lengths of time for processing applications?
Q6.VI. How much time remains, at a minimum, between the granting of licences and the date of opening of the period of importation?
Q6.VII. Is consideration of licence applications effected by a single administrative organ? Or must the application be passed on to other organs for visa, note or approval? If so, which? Does the importer have to approach more than one administrative organ?
Q6.VIII. If the demand for licences cannot be fully satisfied, on what basis is the allocation to applicants made? First come, first served? Past performance? Is there a maximum amount to be allocated per applicant and, if so, on what basis is it determined? What provision is made for new importers? Are applications examined simultaneously or on receipt?
Q6.IX. In the case of bilateral quotas or export restraint arrangements where export permits are issued by exporting countries, are import licences also required? If so, are licences issued automatically?
Q6.X. In cases where imports are allowed on the basis of export permits only, how is the importing country informed of the effect given by the exporting countries to the understanding between the two countries?
Q6.XI. Are there products for which licences are issued on condition that goods should be exported and not sold in the domestic market?
Q7. Where there is no quantitative limit on importation of a product or on imports from a particular country:
Q7.a. How far in advance of importation must application for a licence be made? Can licences be obtained within a shorter time-limit or for goods arriving at the port without a licence (for example, owing to inadvertency)?
Applications to import notifiable waste must be made in advance of the importation by the notifier - the natural or legal person intending to ship the waste - to allow for sufficient time for the competent authorities to consider the application and respond. Although the Regulations provide various timelines for competent authorities, the processing time for a notification varies, and may for example depend on whether the documents have been duly completed and all of the required supporting documents have been provided.
Q7.b. Can a licence be granted immediately on request?
Consent to ship notifiable waste is not given immediately. The notifier may only ship the waste once the competent authorities of the states involved – the states of dispatch, transit and final destination - have provided consent.
Q7.c. Are there any limitations as to the period of the year during which application for licence and/or importation may be made? If so, explain.
There are no limitations as to the period of the year during which an application to import notifiable waste may be made.
Q7.d. Is consideration of licence applications effected by a single administrative organ? Or must the application be passed on to other organs for visa, note or approval? If so, which? Does the importer have to approach more than one administrative organ?
The competent authorities in the UK are responsible for managing notifications to import of export waste:
- In England, the Environment Agency;
- In Wales, Natural Resources Wales;
- In Scotland, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency;
- In Northern Ireland, the Northern Ireland Environment Agency.
Q8. Under what circumstances may an application for a licence be refused other than failure to meet the ordinary criteria? Are the reasons for any refusal given to the applicant? Have applicants a right of appeal in the event of refusal to issue a licence and, if so, to what bodies and under what procedures?
Apart from statutory requirements, there are requirements under the Basel Convention for all States of Transit to control the trans-boundary movement of hazardous waste. Refusal to accept the movement by any such state shall cause the State of export to deny a license. The reasons for objections to shipments for disposal and recovery are set out in the UK Plan for Waste Shipments and Articles 11 and 12 of retained Regulation (EC) No. 1013/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council on shipments of waste.
UK competent authorities may object to a shipment of waste. The reasons for objections to shipments are set out in Articles 11 and 12 of the Regulations.
Eligibility of Importers to Apply for Licence
Q9. Are all persons, firms and institutions eligible to apply for licences: (If not, is there a system of registration of persons or firms permitted to engage in importation? What persons or firms are eligible? Is there a registration fee? Is there a published list of authorized importers?) a) under restrictive licensing systems? b) under non-restrictive systems?
Any natural or legal person, firm or institution may apply for a license. Fees to process notifications are charged by the UK competent authorities. The level of fee is determined by the planned number of shipments. There is no published list of licensed importers or exporters as consents are granted for an individual shipment rather than a blanket license to import or export waste.
Documentational and Other Requirements for Application for Licence
Q10. What information is required in applications? Submit a sample form. What documents is the importer required to supply with the application?
Title II, and in particular Article 4, of the Regulations sets out the requirements for shipments of notifiable waste. These requirements include that the notifier must provide the relevant notification and movement documents, set out in Annex IA and Annex IB of the Regulations. The notifier must also provide further information listed in Annex II, Part 1 and Part 2 of the Regulations. This includes, for example, the name and address of the recovery or disposal facility. Competent authorities may require additional information and documentation as listed in Annex II, Part 3 of the Regulations.
Q11. What documents are required upon actual importation?
As set out above, the notifier must provide a copy of the notification and waste movements forms set out in the Regulations.
Q12. Is there any licensing fee or administrative charge? If so, what is the amount of the fee or charge?
Information on the charges for movements of waste can be found on the relevant guidance pages of the UK’s competent authorities’ websites.
Guidance for England: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/importing-and-exporting-waste
Northern Ireland: https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/articles/transfrontier-shipment-waste
Scotland: https://www.sepa.org.uk/regulations/waste/transfrontier-shipment-of-waste/
Q13. Is there any deposit or advance payment requirement associated with the issue of licences? If so, state the amount or rate, whether it is refundable, the period of retention and the purpose of the requirement.
In accordance with Article 6 of the Regulations, a notifier must also arrange a financial guarantee, or equivalent insurance before a shipment of notifiable waste takes place. This financial guarantee or equivalent insurance must cover: (a) costs of transport; (b) costs of recovery or disposal, including any necessary interim operation; and (c) costs of storage for 90 days.
Conditions of Licensing
Q14. What is the period of validity of a licence? Can the validity of a licence be extended? How?
The validity period for a consent provided by competent authorities is generally a period of up to 12 months. However, if the destination facility has pre-consented status, it is possible that the consent period can be valid for up to 36 months.
Q15. Is there any penalty for the non-utilization of a licence or a portion of a licence?
No penalty for non-utilization.
Q16. Are licences transferable between importers? If so, are any limitations or conditions attached to such transfer?
Licences are not transferable between importers.
Q17. Are any other conditions attached to the issue of a licence? a) for products subject to quantitative restriction? b) for products not subject to quantitative restriction?
All applications must identify the maximum amount of waste that is intended to be covered by the notification. This limit cannot be exceeded. The competent authorities may only consent to import of the waste with specific conditions, as set out in Article 9 and Article 10 of the Regulations.
Other Procedural Requirements
Q18. Are there any other administrative procedures, apart from import licensing and similar administrative procedures, required prior to importation?
Guidance on requirements relating to the import of waste can be obtained from the website of the UK’s competent authorities above (See question 12).
Q19. Is foreign exchange automatically provided by the banking authorities for goods to be imported? Is a licence required as a condition to obtaining foreign exchange? Is foreign exchange always available to cover licences issued? What formalities must be fulfilled for obtaining the foreign exchange?
No foreign exchange control.