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Waste from Japan disallowed under existing laws - DENR(Business World (Philippines) Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge) The Environment department has weighed in against a Japan-Philippines trade deal provision allowing the entry of imported municipal and medical waste. The Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA), signed last month, allegedly has provisions that are not in the Philippines' best interests. The waste provision, in particular, stipulates zero tariffs for the trade of clinical waste such as adhesive dressings, used bandages, pharmaceutical waste, and other waste such as incinerator ash/slag, and sewage sludge. A Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) official yesterday said it will not allow such given current environmental regulations limiting waste imports to scrap metals, solid plastic materials, electronic assemblies and scrap, and used oil. "Even if the JPEPA gives 0% tariffs to these imported wastes, we will not let it in ... Our environmental laws are still superior to the JPEPA," Environment Undersecretary for Policy and Planning Demetrio Ignacio said. He cited Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 and Republic Act 6969 or the Control of Toxic Substances and Hazardous Nuclear Wastes Act of 1990. Senior Trade Undersecretary Thomas G. Aquino, meanwhile, yesterday said the addition of "municipal waste" in the trade treaty was in accordance with World Trade Organization (WTO) protocols. "Waste is considered regulated and tradeable," Mr. Aquino said. While the "DENR is right" in prohibiting the entry of toxic wastes and sludge, he said the issue could be addressed via implementing rules to be negotiated once the Senate ratifies the JPEPA. The Environmental Management Bureau has said the country's importation of recyclable materials is so far limited to four main categories: scrap metals, solid plastic materials, electronic assemblies and scraps, and used oil. Department Administrative Order (DAO) 28, issued in 1994, allows for waste shipments under certain conditions. In 2004, then Environment Secretary Elisea G. Gozun issued DAO 27 to include used lead-acid batteries under the scrap metal category. Last week, environmental advocates under the EcoWaste Coalition questioned JPEPA provisions that had stipulated zero tariffs for waste shipments. Economists have also cited the inclusion of the so-called Singapore issues in the agreement, subjects which the Philippines has rejected in WTO negotiations. Copyright 2006 BusinessWorld (Philippines). Source: Financial Times Information Limited - Asia Intelligence Wire. |