Speaking at the event, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment and Head of the VEA Bui Cach Tuyen said the trans-boundary transportation of chemicals and waste was causing serious harm to the environment and human health, especially in developing countries, creating an urgent need for effective measures to be implemented.
In Vietnam, a number of enterprises have disregarded the Law on Environmental Protection and illegally imported waste into the country, despite authorities’ increasing investigations and preventive measures. The most common types of waste are plastic, paper, copper, rubber, silicon, nylon and out-of-date machinery, he added.
Tuyen said the effective enforcement of international conventions and national environmental law was one of the best ways to protect the environment and public health, stressing the important role of customs officials, environmental police, and the provincial Departments of Natural Resources and the Environment.
Wanhua Yang, legal officer at the regional UNEP office’s Division of Environmental Law and Conventions, appreciated Vietnam’s effort to develop decrees and circulars on waste control, adding that the UN was willing to support Vietnam by sharing its experience and advising on effective policy measures to eliminate the harmful trade.
A number of important topics were up for discussion during the workshop, including an analysis of the current trends in the illegal trade of chemicals and waste; regional and international approaches; policies and regulations on environmental protection with regard to imported waste in Vietnam; and international lessons learned in tackling the illegal trade of waste.
