Just this year, the Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine
Administration of Mawei, Fujian
Province, has seized 75 tons of environmentally unsafe waste
plastic in four batches imported from Japan. The "foreign waste"
has all been returned to Japan as unfit goods.?
The four batches of imported goods are PE thin-film, of which a
large part was in poor sanitary condition, not having been washed
before importing. The inspection and quarantine administrative
department of Fujian Province has already reported the event to
Japan-China Commodities Inspection Co Ltd.
Related officials reveal that some overseas exporters are
suspected of malicious deceit. It was reported that a few bundles
of clean goods were placed around the door of the container to
possibly disguise unclean ones lying behind it. Some Chinese
importers, especially those who have just begun in the raw waste
material business, have a weak awareness of environmental
standards, and don’t usually write clauses concerning environmental
protection into their contracts, giving overseas, possibly corrupt,
businessmen opportunities.
In such situations, the inspection and quarantine department of
Fujian has strengthened its force in inspecting imported goods
strictly in accordance with related environmental standards, and
requires importers of waste material to include clauses of
environmental protection into contracts signed with overseas
parties. The clause states that overseas imported commodities must
meet environmental standards set by the Chinese government and
smuggling of hazardous wastes, under the control of the Basel
Convention on the Control of Trans-boundary Movement of Hazardous
Waste and Their Disposal, and other waste is strictly
forbidden.
The Fujian inspection and quarantine department has import
behavior files on domestic business organizations, waste recycling
units, agents and overseas exporters. Those exposed as having
discredited environmental standards, priority inspections will be
implemented.
(China.org.cn by Zhang Tingting, October 21, 2003)