§ Dr. Lynne JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Leyton (Mr. Cohen) of 26 May,Official Report, column 232, what the national and international regulations governing the movement and destruction of hazardous waste lay down as the minimum technical requirements for the handling of this waste; and whether these requirements obtain in all the third-world countries to which hazardous and toxic waste is exported.
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§ Mr. AtkinsI have been asked to reply.
Transfrontier shipments of waste into and ow: of the United Kingdom are now governed by Council Regulation (EEC) No. 259/93, on the supervision and control of shipments of waste within, into and out of the European Community. The regulation fulfils the EC's obligations under the Basel convention. Shipments of wastes covered by the regulation must comply with a wide range of international transport conventions, listed in annex 1 to the regulation, dealing with the safety of consignments in transit. Disposal facilities in Great Britain must operate in accordance with authorisations given under part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, and waste management licences issued by waste regulation authorities under part II of that Act. The regulation prohibits shipments of waste for disposal outside the European Community, other than to EFTA countries which are parties to the Basel convention.