19/01/23 (Agence Europe) – The Bureau of International Recycling (BIR) is concerned about the potential negative impact of the tightening of waste shipment rules in and out of the EU on the international recycling industry, in the wake of the European Parliament’s vote on 17 January on the proposed revision of the EU Waste Shipment Regulation (see EUROPE 13101/4). In a statement, the BIR said the legislation will make it difficult for recyclers to export materials outside the EU. While intra-EU movements are clearly facilitated, exports to non-EU countries - both industrialised (OECD) and developing (non-OECD) - will be considerably burdened by intergovernmental agreements and inspections, audits and checks on facilities in third countries, according to BIR. Its Chairman, Tom Bird, sees it as “thinly disguised back-door protectionism that puts our industry in danger while severely disrupting the global circular economy”. (AN)