Activities

Awareness Raising

Ministry of the Environment, Japan (MOEJ) has produced various pamphlets explaining the provisions of the Basel Convention, the relevant legal control system in Japan and export and import procedures. MOEJ has also been conducting awareness raising activities for exporters and importers of hazardous wastes and disseminating the information through the website targeting exporters and importers on export and import control in various countries other than Japan, takeback cases and administrative guidance and relevant events and seminars to enhance the understanding of the Basel Convention among stakeholders.

Briefing Seminar

MOEJ in cooperation with Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), holds the briefing seminars every year in more than 10 cities all over Japan. The seminars aim to provide information to stakeholders, such as importers, exporters, waste generators, customs, with the following relevant information.

  • Framework of the Basel Convention
  • Regulation in Japan and other countries
  • Criteria for distinguishing Basel waste from others
  • Application procedures

Pre-application Consultation Service

MOEJ and METI also provide pre-application consultation service for importers and exporters. The service assists them in judging whether their intended trade is subject to the Basel Convention and/or national waste regulations and in taking necessary procedures for controlled wastes. It also provides information on relevant rules and regulations of importing countries.

Cargo Inspection

Customs play important role to stop or prevent illegal shipment of hazardous wastes and other wastes through the border controlling activity. In Japan, MOEJ and METI hold meetings with Customs officer on a regular basis and share intelligence relevant to illegal shipment of hazardous wastes so that Custom officers can extend their knowledge on how to inspect cargo containing hazardous wastes in an effective manner.