The procedure of prior written notification and consent consists of pre-shipment inspection (before the waste shipments start) and destination inspection (for each waste shipment). The obligation to notify exists for all wastes that cannot be assigned to any entry on the Green List (Annex III, IIIA and IIIB of WSR).
For exceptions to the notification requirement for waste, see the page on information requirements.
Notification documents
The exporter has to apply (notify) the planned shipment of waste to the competent authority in his home country by means of a notification document and an movement document as well as other required documents. Assistance in completing the forms is provided in a completion guide, which also provides specifications for the frame size of the forms. The filling-in instructions can be found in Annex IC of the WSR. The required notification documents can be found in Annex II of the WSR.
Consent of authorities
Transboundary waste shipments are only permitted if and as long as the competent authorities at the place of dispatch (exporting country), at the place of destination (importing country) and any authorities responsible for transit (transit country) have given their prior written consent. The consents of all authorities must be cumulative. The consent is valid for one year. For recovery facilities with prior consent (in the EU and OECD), this period can be extended up to 3 years.
Competent authorities
According to Article 14 of the German Waste Shipment Act (WSA), the Federal States are responsible for the import and export of waste subject to notification. They determine the competent authorities that carry out the examination of import and export applications for transboundary waste shipments.
The German Federal Environment Agency is responsible for transit through Germany.