Granting Consent for Transboundary movement of Hazardous Waste (Import/Export/Transit)

Details

Implementation of obligations of the Basel Convention (BC) (www.basel.int)

Implementation of the National obligations on Import, Export and Transit of waste listed in the Basel Convention is carried out by the CEA as the National Competent Authority for the BC.

Approval Procedure for Importation of Hazardous Waste

As Sri Lanka does not have disposal facilities the importation of List A waste of the Basel convention is not allowed.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

For the importation of List B  waste of the Basel convention a proposal should be submitted by the Importer/ Industrialist to the CEA/BOI. Then the proposal is been circulated among the members of the Technical Committee for the implementation of the Basel Convention for comments. Based upon TEC recommendations Importation is approved under conditions/not approved with reasons. The ports Authority & the Sri Lanka Customs are also informed of the decision taken.

The following important decisions have already been taken with respected to the importation of waste material to the industries

• As per the National Solid Waste Management policy importation of post consumer waste to Sri Lanka is prohibited
• Establishment of new recycling industry based on any imported waste/ recycled material is not allowed

Procedure for importing waste or recycle materials

For import of waste or recycle materials, importers are required to obtain prior approval from CEA before any waste/ recycled material are imported into Sri  Lanka

1. Check whether the material intended to be imported in the List A or List B of the Basel convention  

2.  If it is included in the List A of the Basel convention-reject: If it is in the List B - submit an application to Basel Technical Expert Committeeat the CEA with the following information and documents.

• Authenticity of  country of origin and source of materials:

• A copy of the valid Environmental Protection License - The industry for which the material is being used should bear a valid Environment Protection License.

• A report of the production process in the country of origin, the composition of the compound and total quantity of raw material received from the sources available in the country of origin.

• Analytical report obtained from an accredited laboratory to ensure the non toxicity and cleanliness of the material.

• Sample / Photo graph of raw material:

• List of main manufactured products and capacities

• List of by products:

• Details of waste arising from the process  & disposal mechanism

• An agreement with the country of exporting / other country with a statement of  willingness to accept the waste arising from the industrial process

• Charge the processing fee for Basel TEC - Rs. 20000/= + All Government taxes

After submission of all these documents;

3. Table the matter  at the Basel Technical Expert Committee at CEA

4. Decisions of the Technical Expert Committee are forwarded to the National Coordinating Committee for the Implementation of Basel Convention of the  Ministry of Environment .

5. Once approval is granted industries are allowed to import waste/ recycled material listed  in the list B of Basel convention

6. Obtain the written consent from the authority for each consignment upon importation
   A processing fee + All Government Taxes will be charged for each consignment upon importation.

7. Officers of the Waste Management Unit will monitor the Industry prior to renew the approvals.

8. Industrialists should submit the  material balance to the CEA for next renewal.

Approval Procedure for the Exportation of Hazardous Waste

1. If you are exporting any type of hazardous waste listed under the Basel Convention to a country that is a party to the Basel Convention then you will need to complete two copies of the Basel Notification Form and Basel Movement/Tracking Form plus one extra copy of each for every country of transit. The notification forms should be submitted with relevant documents and  this has to be done at least 02 months before the intended date of the first movement of waste

• Relevant documents are,

  • Financial guarantee and insurance

  • Agreement with the Disposer/ Importer etc. In the case of all export permits, a written contract or chain of contracts, covering all movements, starting with the notifier and terminating at the disposal facility. The person specified in the contract is responsible for the management of the wastes including their return if necessar

2. Check the Notification upon its receipt for adequacy.

3. Transmit the notification to the State of Import and State(s) of Transit.

4. Obtain the written consent from the State of Import and State(s) of  Transit.

5. Issue the final authorization with necessary conditions.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Processing fee will be charged for Export permits - Annual fee + All Government Taxes

• If the State of Transit or one of the States of Transit does not give their consent the exporter will be informed accordingly to change the route or  not to proceed the exportation

• The Ports Authority of Sri Lanka & the Sri Lanka Customs are also informed simultaneously. 

All permits issued are valid for up to twelve months. This means that a number of shipments can be made under the one permit, up to the limit of tonnes allowed under the permit, provided that the type of waste and the destination of the waste remains the same.

Approval Procedure for the Transit of Hazardous Waste

Transit or Transshipment approvals for Hazardous Waste through Sri Lanka under the Basel Convention

- If you plan to transport any hazardous waste via Sri Lanka, you may need to apply for a transit or transshipment approval before it enters into the country.
- The “Transit” of a hazardous waste means that the waste material will be exported via Sri Lanka landing at the ports and this includes goods that remain onboard the vessel while in transit.
- The “Transshipment” of a hazardous waste means that the material will be exported out of Sri Lanka within allowed working days of landing it and this includes goods offloaded onto offshore barges or platforms & put into storage on land until the waste materials loaded to the next vessel.
- If the offloaded goods are not loaded into the next vessel within allowed period (or abandoned) this is considered as an illegal importation.

1. Applying procedure

- If you want to apply for a transit or transshipment approval please send email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with following documents.
- Export notification form with the details of hazardous waste in the shipment, names, Quantities, UN numbers, Hazardous Class etc.
- Movement Document
- Request letter from the Competent Authority for Basel Convention in the country of export
- Length of stay & proposed transit/transshipment activities.

    1. Charges for Transits/Transshipment processing fee
  - Payment should not be done until we send the acknowledge email with other requirements.
  - After receiving email from the CEA

   For one transit requests – 250 USD (valid for one year period)

   For one transshipment request – 500 USD (valid for one year period)

 1. Payment method
     Direct Credit

 Our Bank account details:
- Account Name :        Central Environmental Authority
- Bank :                        Bank of Ceylon
- Branch :                     Pelawatte
- Account Number :     0002937303
- Branch Number :       690
- Swift Code :               BCEYLKLX
- Pay reference :           Please include your export notification number

Email your remittance advice to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. stating the amount of payment, customer name & export notification number

Written consent
- After receiving your remittance the receipt of the Central Environmental Authority will be issued and the written transit or transshipment consent will be issued within 14 working days.