Defra has published a briefing for stakeholders that sets out how the UK government will maintain the continuity of waste shipments between the UK and the EU in the “unlikely” event the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
On 25 January 2018 the European Commission issued a notice to stakeholders stating that if the UK leaves the EU without a deal, import/export licences issued by the UK would no longer be valid for shipments of waste to the 27 remaining EU countries, and licenses issued by the EU would no longer be valid for shipments to the UK, from the day the UK leaves.
This means current approvals to ship notified waste between the UK and the EU that extend beyond the 29 March 2019 would be subject to a re-approval process to ensure continuity.
Defra is contacting other EU countries to discuss arrangements, it says. UK and EU exporters of notified shipments will be advised before the end of November 2018 on next steps.
The same applies to waste shipments transiting the EU. There is currently no process set out in the EU Waste Shipment Regulations on how notified shipments that have already been approved by UK and EU competent authorities should be re-approved.
Defra is contacting other EU countries to discuss arrangements, it says. UK and EU exporters of notified shipments will be advised before the end of November 2018 on next steps.
The briefing states current law, what will happen if no deal is agreed upon by March 19, which includes waste shipments from the UK to EU countries and EU countries to the UK.
The guide also states, however, that a scenario in which the UK leaves the EU without agreement (a “no deal” scenario) remains “unlikely” given the mutual interests of the UK and the EU in securing a negotiated outcome.
“Negotiations are progressing well and both we and the EU continue to work hard to seek a positive deal,” it states. “However, it’s our duty as a responsible government to prepare for all eventualities, including ‘no deal’, until we can be certain of the outcome of those negotiations.”
