§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what hazardous waste has been handled through Shoreham Harbour in the last two years; and what licences were issued. [43791]
§ Mr. Meacher[holding answer 15 March 2002]: Shipments of hazardous waste enter the UK under a system of prior written notification and consent rather than licensing. These controls are set out by Council Regulation (EEC) No.259/93 on the supervision and control of shipments of hazardous waste. The UK does not designate specific ports of import for hazardous waste. The Environment Agency, which controls the import of waste, would not, therefore, necessarily know which port is being used for a shipment.
However, the Environment Agency area office believes that there has been one shipment of 60 tonnes of redundant pesticides and agrochemicals imported via Shoreham in the last two years. This arrived in 2002.