Vietnam looks set to ban import of mixed paper and mixed plastics

A ban on the import of mixed paper and mixed plastics looks set to be imposed by the Vietnamese Government.

Following instructions from the Prime Minister of Vietnam, a meeting was held last week to discuss reducing the currently permitted list of 36 waste commodity codes allowed for import to an expected 24.

Vietnam’s Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha chaired the meeting of six ministries with the intention of reviewing the list of 36 permitted materials.

At the meeting, it was agreed to remove materials that create a high risk of environmental pollution. In particular, it was referenced that other countries in the region were banning these materials, which is most likely to be a reference to China but potentially also Thailand and Malaysia.

It was also decided that materials would be banned if there wasn’t a history of those products being imported into Vietnam, as well as limiting materials where there was already availability from domestic sources in the country.

Although a full list of materials to be removed from the list was not provided following the meeting, it was made clear that ‘unidentified paper scrap’ and ‘non-categorical plastics’ “may be expected to be restricted and removed”.

This would appear to suggest that commodity code 470790, which is typically known as mixed paper would be banned. This is also banned by China.

It would also appear that commodity code 391590, which refers to ‘other plastics’ of no clear definition would also be prevented from import.

Industry sources exporting to Vietnam have told REB Market Intelligence that this is their understanding that mixed paper and mixed plastics will be banned for export to the country.

However, until the full list of 24 permitted materials is published, this cannot be confirmed.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment will now work with industries and trade associations to develop long-term guidelines and policies on waste imports, to ensure a supply of raw materials is provided to manufacturers in Vietnam.

The current full list of the 36 commodities allowed into Vietnam:

LIST OF SCRAPS ALLOWED FOR IMPORT AS MANUFACTURING MATERIALS

(According to Decision 73/2014/QD-TTg dated 19/12/2014 by the Prime Minister)