Exporters of green list non-hazardous waste need to complete an Annex VII form which is available as an Annex VII pdf download.
The Annex VII is a hard copy paper document that accompanies the waste shipment all the way to its overseas destination, at which point the importer and the recovery facility (if they are different) need to sign and complete the relevant sections. Copies of the Annex VII then need to be retained by the exporter for three years.
What information goes on an Annex 7?
The Annex VII needs to record who has arranged the waste shipment, who is transporting it, and where it is being taken. It also describes what the waste is, along with the relevant identification codes, which can be found in the consolidated waste list. These codes indicate the rules that govern the transportation of each type of waste. Differing rules between the exporting country, the destination country and transit countries can require extra paperwork and various other forms of compliance.
For example, waste paper is considered non-hazardous in the UK, whereas Indian Customs consider it to be hazardous waste, requiring a pre-shipment inspection certificate, form 6 and form 9 transboundary movement documents, a certificate of chemical analysis report, and a certificate of origin. Italy on the other hand doesn’t classify waste paper as waste at all.
Pre-shipment submissions for Scotland and Northern Ireland
For exporters in Scotland, information contained in Annex VII forms has to be submitted to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) before the shipment sets off. A similar pre-shipment submission requirement exists in Northern Ireland, whose regulator is the NIEA. This requirement does not apply in England and Wales.
Green list rules require a written contract
In addition to completing and signing the Annex VII, exporters of green list waste need to ensure that the waste is properly sorted in a way that conforms with Article 18 controls, and will be accepted by the destination country, which might have different rules. Exporters must create a written contract with the importer in which the exporter undertakes to take the waste back or recover it in some other way if the shipment cannot be completed as planned, or is found to be illegal. The exporter also needs to confirm that the waste will be treated in an environmentally sound way at its destination.
