Vol. 470 No. 1
192 Mr. M. Kitt asked the Minister for the Environment the steps, if any, he is taking or planning to take, to ensure that the 1995 amendment to the Basel Convention, which bans all toxic waste exports from OECD to non-OECD countries is fully enforced in this country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18348/96]
In May 1996, the Environment Council adopted a common position on a draft Council Regulation to amend Regulation 259/93 so as to prohibit the export of wastes for recovery to non-OECD countries after 31 December 1997; this is in line with the corresponding decision of the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention for an amendment of the Convention. The new EU Regulation will apply in member states following its formal adoption and will, if necessary, be complemented by national regulations, as was done to facilitate implementation in Ireland of Regulation 259/93.
The export of hazardous waste for disposal to non-OECD countries is already prohibited by Council Regulation 259/93.
