Basel Convention Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Amendments 2025

Post Date: 01 September 2025
Read Time: 5 minutes

The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal is an international treaty, adopted on 22 March 1989, which aims to reduce the negative impacts of hazardous wastes and other wastes on human health and the environment. One of the main goals of the convention is to prevent the transboundary movement of waste that cannot be carried out in an environmentally sound manner.

As of January 2025, the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention adopted amendments to Annexes II, VIII, and IX. These changes expand the scope of control over transboundary movements of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), making all electrical and electronic waste subject to the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) procedure. WEEE is waste, including all components, sub-assemblies, and consumables that are part of the equipment at the time the equipment becomes waste.[1]

What has changed?

New classification of WEEE

A new category, Y49, has been added to Annex II of the Convention. This includes[2]:

Used and end-of-life electrical and electronic equipment
Components, assemblies, and subassemblies
Shredded or processed WEEE fractions

These materials are now regulated, even if they are not classified as hazardous.

Category A1181 has been added to Annex VIII of the Convention. This includes[2]:

WEEE and its components that contain or are contaminated with hazardous substances to a degree that they exhibit hazardous characteristics
Shredded or dismantled fractions of WEEE that still contain hazardous materials

Waste shipment procedures

There are now two main procedures governing the shipment of waste, depending on whether it is classified as hazardous or non-hazardous[3]:

Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Procedure (hazardous waste) – Exporters must notify all competent authorities in the countries of dispatch, transit, and destination before shipping hazardous waste. Shipments can only proceed once formal written consent has been granted from each country involved.
General Information Procedure (non-hazardous waste) – A simplified process for certain low-risk, non-hazardous wastes. Prior consent is not required, but basic documentation must accompany the shipment.

Under the revised Basel Convention rules, all cross-border movements of WEEE – whether destined for disposal, recycling, or refurbishment – are now subject to stricter controls. This means:

Advance notification must be provided to importing and transit countries.
Written consent must be obtained from all relevant authorities in each country before any shipment can take place.
Supporting documentation, including contracts, transport details, and evidence of correct waste classification, must accompany the consignment.

Non-hazardous used electronical and electronic equipment (UEEE) now falls under a process that was previously reserved for hazardous waste.

Former exemptions removed

Previously, WEEE (e.g. used equipment for repair or resale) could be shipped under exemptions. These exemptions have now been removed:

Annex VIII now lists all hazardous WEEE under A1181
Annex IX exemptions like B1110 have been revoked[2]

In effect, the movement of all WEEE now requires regulatory oversight, regardless of its intended use or hazard level.

Upcoming changes to WEEE classification

From the 1 January 2027, all WEEE shipped within the EU should be classified under entries Y49 or A1181 and the transboundary movement of these waste types will be subject to the PIC procedure.[4]

Impact on EU waste shipment regulations

As a Party to the Basel Convention, the EU has introduced two delegated acts to update the EU’s Waste Shipments Regulation – Regulation (EC) No 1013/2006 – and implement the 2025 amendments of the Basel Convention. [4],[5]

It is worth noting that the UK acknowledges the amendments (which were presented to Parliament in February 2025) but has not yet fully implemented them, specifically for non-hazardous WEEE, which now falls under PIC.

In summary, as of 1 January 2025, the following requirements apply:

Exports of WEEE from the EU to countries that are members of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) are subject to the prior informed consent procedure.
Imports of WEEE from third countries into the EU must follow the PIC procedure.
The export of WEEE from the EU to non-OECD countries is prohibited.
The shipment of WEEE between EU Member States must follow the PIC procedure, unless the non-hazardous waste is categorised under entries GC010 (electronic assemblies consisting only of metals or alloys) or GC020 (electronic scrap e.g. printed circuit boards, electronic components, wire, etc. and reclaimed electronic components suitable for base and precious metal recovery). Shipments under these entries will be subject to the general information procedure until 31 December 2026.[3]

What this means for businesses

For businesses involved in the manufacture, resale, refurbishment, recycling, or export / import of electrical and electronic equipment, these changes to the Basel Convention have introduced new regulatory requirements and compliance risk.

Recommended next steps include:

Reviewing which materials fall under the new Y49 or A1181 codes
Assessing whether reuse shipments meet the required standards to avoid classification as waste
Preparing the documentation needed for transboundary movements

If you’re uncertain whether your business is fully compliant, or you're experiencing issues with exports, SLR can support you. We’re currently helping clients across sectors with classifying electric and electronic equipment internationally and producing waste management compliance reports, including the trans-boundary shipment of waste. Let us know if you’d like to discuss how these new requirements apply to your operations.

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