G/LIC/N/2/SGP/7  
 
30 April 2020  
(20-3356) Page: 1/4 
Committee on Import Licensing  Original: English  
 
AGREEMENT ON IMPORT LICENSING PROCEDURES  
NOTIFICATION UNDER A RTICLE 5.1 TO 5.4 OF  THE AGREEMENT1 
SINGAPORE  
The following notification dated 28 April 2020 , is being circulated at the request of the delegation of 
Singapore . 
 
 Category  Notification details  
1 Notifying Member  Singapore  
2 Title of new 
legislation/procedure  Hazardous Waste (Control of Export, Import and  Transit) 
(Amendment) Act 2020  
3 Date of Publication  
 28/02/2020 
4 Date of entry into force  
 01/10/2020 
 
Please note that only Section 7 of the Hazardous Waste (Control of 
Export, Import and Transit) (Amendment) Act 2020 , which amends 
the Schedule to include plastic waste in various Annexes to the  
Basel Convention , is relevant to this notification. Section 7 comes 
into operation on 1 October 2020.  
5 Website link/Official 
publication of the new 
regulation/procedure  https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Acts -Supp/6 -
2020/Published/20200 228?DocDate=20200228   
6 Have you attached a copy of 
the regulation (PDF) to the 
Secretariat  
  Yes. ( Please attach a copy of the regulation to the notification. ) 
 
 No. 
7 Type of notification   (a) New licensing regulation/procedure2; (please answer question 
8 to 14)  
 
 (b) Changes to a regulation/procedure which has been previously 
notified in document: G/LIC/N/3/SGP/15 ;  (please answer question 
15 and 16 ) 
8 List of products subject to 
licensing  Please provide the HS codes and detailed descriptions of the 
products. In case of a long list, please attach the list as an Annex in 
MS WORD document.  
 
9 Nature of licensing  Automatic:  
 
Non-Automatic:  
 
 
 
 
1 It is understood that the notifying Member has also completed its notification obligations under 
Article  1.4(a) and Article 8.2(b) regarding the relevant law/regulation/procedure notified for by filling this form 
in a full and complete manner.  
2 "New licensing regulation/procedure" is understood to refer to  any newly introduced law, regulation or 
procedure, and those which are in force but being notified for the first time to the Committee.  
 G/LIC/N/2/SGP/7  
 
- 2 - 
 
   Category  Notification details  
10 Administrative 
purpose/measure being 
implemented  (a)  Protect public morals;  
(b)  Protect human, animal or plant life and health; protect 
environment;  
(c)  Collect trade statistics or market surveillance;  
(d)  Protection of patents, trademarks and copyrights, and 
the prevention of deceptive practices;  
(e)  Pursue obligations under the UN Charter and other 
international treaties ( i.e. CITES, Basel Convention, 
Rotterdam Convention, UNSC Resolutions etc.)  
(f)  Quota (including TRQ) administration;  
(g)  Regulate imports of arms, ammunition or fissionable 
materials and safeguard national security;  
(h)  Other: ______________ (please specify)  
 
11 Administrative body(ies) for  
submission of applications   
 Ministry/authority and Department: [ ]  
Address: [ ]  
Website: [ ]  
Telephone: [ ]  
E-Mail: [ ]  
12 Contact point for 
information on eligibility  Ministry/authority and Department: [ ]  
Address: [ ]  
Website: [ ]  
Telephone:  [ ]  
E-Mail: [ ]  
13 Expected duration of 
licensing procedure   
 
 
14 A summary of the 
notification in one of the 
WTO official languages    
 
 
 
15 In the case of 7(b), please 
indicate the type of new 
change(s)  (a)  Termination  
(b)  Suspension  
(c)  Modification of specific details in existing  
procedures:  
 Product coverage;  
 Administrative purpose;  
 Automatic or Non -automatic;  
 Duration of licensing;  
 Change the nature of quantity/value restriction;  
 Eligibility of applicants;  
 Contact information on eligibility;  
 Administrative body(ies) for submission of application;  
 Documentation requirements (including application form);  
 Period for Application;  
 Administrative body(ies) to issue licence;  
 Processing time for issuing licence;  
 Licence fee/administrative charge;  
 Deposit/advance payment and relevant conditions;  
 Appeal regulations/procedures;  
 Validity of licence;  
 Other conditions of licence (extension, transferability, 
penalty of non -use etc.);  
 Foreign exchange requirements;  
 Other: __________ (please specify).  
 
 G/LIC/N/2/SGP/7  
 
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   Category  Notification details  
16  Please elaborate the 
changes in detail (in one of 
the WTO official languages)  
 The Hazardous Waste (Control of Import, Export or Transit) Act 
(HWA) provides the legislative framework for Singapore to regulate 
the transboundary movement control of hazardous waste and other 
waste controlled under the Basel Convention. Under the HWA, 
companies importing, exporting or transiting hazardous waste or 
other wastes controlled under the Basel Convention, are required to 
apply for a Basel Permit from NEA (Pollution Control Department, 
PCD). The application will require the company to submit the 
necessary supporting documents and obtain a Banker’s Guarantee.  
 
At the 14th Meeting of Conference of the Parties to the Basel 
Convention (COP -14) held from 29 Apr to 10 May 2019, Parties 
adopted the decision to subject the transboundary movement of 
certain plastic wastes streams to the Prior -Informed Consent (PIC) 
procedure. The HWA amendment will subject these plastic waste 
streams for transboundary movement control under the Act. Thus, 
companies will be required to obtain a Basel permit for the import, 
export or transit of plastic wastes listed in Annex II and Annex VIII 
of the Basel Convention. The list of controlled plastic waste is listed 
as follows:  
 
• Single stream halogenated plastic waste consisting only 
polyvinyl chloride (PVC) foam  
• Single stream h alogenated plastic waste consisting only 
polyvinyl chloride (PVC)  
• Single stream plastic waste consisting of halogenated 
polymers (excluding fluorinated polymers 
perfluoroethylene/propylene (FEP), 
tetrafluoroethylene/perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether (PFA), 
tetrafluoroethylene/perfluoromethyl vinyl ether (MFA), 
polyvinylfluoride (PVF), polyvinylidenefluoride (PVDF)) or 
post-consumer fluorinated plastic wastes  
• All mixed plastic wastes (excluding mixed plast ic wastes 
consisting of only polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) 
and/or polyethylene terephthalate (PET)) and foams 
[*predominantly polyethylene (PE) foams]  
• All mixed plastic wastes (excluding mixed plastic wastes 
consisting of only polyethylene (PE), po lypropylene (PP) 
and/or polyethylene terephthalate (PET)) and foams 
[*predominantly polystyrene (PS) foams]  
• All mixed plastic wastes (excluding mixed plastic wastes 
consisting of only polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) 
and/or polyethylene terephthalate (PET)) and foams 
[*predominantly polystyrene (PS)]  
• All mixed plastic wastes (excluding mixed plastic wastes 
consisting of only polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) 
and/or polyethylene terephthalate (PET)) and foams 
[*predominantly polyvinyl chloride (PVC)  foams]  
• All mixed plastic wastes (excluding mixed plastic wastes 
consisting of only polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) 
and/or polyethylene terephthalate (PET)) and foams 
[*predominantly polyvinyl chloride (PVC)]  
• All mixed plastic wastes (excluding mixed  plastic wastes 
consisting of only polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) 
and/or polyethylene terephthalate (PET)) and foams 
[*predominantly not polystyrene (PS), polyvinyl chloride 
(PVC), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) and/or 
polyethylene terephthal ate (PET)]   
• Single stream or mixed plastic wastes, foams and resins 
that contain or mixed with other wastes  
 
The list of controlled plastic wastes and the accompanying HS and 
Product codes will be updated on the Controlled HS Codes Lists for 
items under im port, export and transhipment control in Sep 2020. 
The Lists, as maintained by Singapore Customs, are accessible via 
the following link: http://www.customs.gov.sg/ -
/media/cus/files/about -us/annexes -and-appendices/appendix -d---
items -under -import -export -transhipment -control.pdf   G/LIC/N/2/SGP/7  
 
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   Category  Notification details  
  The domestic control measure will come into effect on 1 Oct 2020 to 
prepare companies for compliance with  the Basel Convention 
obligation s on the transboundary movement of plastic wastes, 
ahead of the international obligations on 1 Jan 2021.  
 
* Predominant refers to the largest component within the mixed 
plastic wastes.  
 
__________