Govt urged to curb import of hazardous plastic scraps

LAHORE: Government has to curb the entry of hazardous plastic scraps into the country by strictly enforcing the laws, industry sources said on Wednesday.
“The import policy, notified by the commerce ministry in February following an order by Lahore High Court, is in the best interest of the country and to save the people of Pakistan from using hazardous plastic/PVC materials, which can cause environmental and health problems,” environmental consultant Syed Nehal Asghar said.
Asghar said hazardous material can cause infections and diseases and create several viruses in the human body.
He added that the import policy should be implemented in letter and spirit.
According to the import policy for plastic scrap, industrial consumers can import the substance only when federal and provincial environment protection agencies approve their recycling facilities.
Besides, the importers ought to submit environmental audit reports, approved by the concerned environment protection agency, to the government.
A pre-inspection certificate is also required from the exporting country that the consignment doesn’t contain any hazardous substance defined in the Basel Convention.
Plastic scraps are mainly imported from Saudi Arabia, UAE and United Kingdom.
Non-sterilised plastic scrap is openly sold in Pakistan. This scrap is used in making household utensils, seals for water supply fitting, and sandals/chappals.
The country imported 20,600 metric tons of plastic scrap in 2014 as against 25,500mt in 2013 and 26,600mt in 2012. This shows that the administrative and legal steps are proving results.
The ministry’s notification said the customs authorities, in case of doubt, may randomly get any consignment tested through the Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research or any other government certified laboratory.
An industry source, who does not want to be named, said the revised mechanism to curb unauthorised and illegal imports of plastic scrap through formal entry points is a challenge and must be dealt with accordingly.
“Otherwise, it will be a futile exercise to enforce the policy,” he said.
Asghar said responsibility lies on the shoulders of different regulatory authorities, including Pakistan Customs, federal and provincial environmental protection agencies and the inspection companies, to enforce this policy.
He said environmental protection agencies are also responsible to give approval in line with the Environment Protection Act.
“The implementation mechanism should be strengthened on the pattern of other regional countries, like China and India where the import of hazardous PVC scrap is strictly banned and where every imported consignment is tested and inspected on various levels,” he said.
In India, licences for importing the plastic scrap are issued after details of recycling and manufacturing setup, while in Sri Lanka, the ministry of environment considers on a case-to-case basis the import of plastic scrap.
“Pakistan should also ensure the strict enforcement of the new policy to control and regulate the import of hazardous plastic scrap to prevent its dumping in the country,” Asghar said.