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PUBLICATION OF ASEAN MEMBER STATES (AMS)’ ADMINISTRATIVE AND TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS AS WELL AS PRACTICES ON PLASTIC WASTE CONTROL FOR AMS’ AWARENESS

According to the Basel Convention website, plastic waste pollution as a major global environmental problem has reached catastrophic proportions with an estimated 100 million tons of plastic now found in the oceans, 80 – 90 percent of which comes from land-based sources. This problem is especially acute in ASEAN, particularly Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand, which has seen imports of plastic waste from wealthier nations to the region rise sharply following a Chinese ban on waste imports at the start of 2018.
ASEAN Foreign Ministers expressed their concern over the adverse effects to human health and the environment posed by the increased movement of hazardous waste into Southeast Asia and agreed the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Statement on Illegal Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Waste and Other Wastes in Southeast Asia during the 20th ASEAN Plus Three Foreign Minister Meeting, on 2 August 2019 in Bangkok, Thailand.
During the 28th ASEAN Directors General (DGs) of Customs Meeting on 11-13 June 2019 in Vientiane, Lao PDR, the DG of Cambodia raised the concern on plastic waste importation to some countries in the region. Indonesia and Malaysia also proposed to include this issue as a new agenda on the 26th ASEAN Customs Enforcement and Compliance Working Group Meeting, on 27-29 August 2019 in Medan Indonesia.
The purpose of the Publication of Asean Member States (AMS)’ Administrative and Technical Requirements as well as Practices on Plastic Waste Control for AMS’ Awareness is to provide guidance for the customs administrations of the ASEAN Member States on the requirements for the plastic waste control into ASEAN region.
This publication was prepared based on numerous consultation and series of discussion including discussions conducted during the ASEAN Regional Workshop on Combating Plastic Waste Dumping held in Kuching, Sarawak from 20 to 22 June 2023. The Workshop was held with the participation of AMS, namely Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, The Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. This Publication was also prepared by taking into consideration the Basel Convention Plastic Waste Amendments.
This publication may be reviewed from time to time to accommodate changes in policies, law or regulations involving the plastic waste control. The latest edition of this publication shall be applied whenever it is available.