Join Statement: Proposals for Waste Shipment Regulation

The global information and communications technology (“ICT”) sector, represented by the undersigned associations, is pleased to provide these comments and recommendations in advance of the seventeenth Conference of the Parties (“COP-17”) (April 28 – May 9, 2025).

Parties at COP-17 will consider proposed amendments, including the R14 and R17 proposals discussed further below, that have the potential to undermine global circularity efforts by disrupting well-established and environmentally sound trade flows of used equipment and components (hereinafter collectively referred to as “products”) for legitimate repair,
refurbishment, failure analysis and re-use.

The global ICT sector seeks to advance environmentally sound management (“ESM”) of electronic waste (“e-waste” or “WEEE”) and continues promote a more sustainable and circular economy through repair, refurbishment and re-use of used electrical and electronic equipment (“UEEE”) in a manner consistent with the Basel Convention. The information and communications technology (“ICT”) sector has been engaged in key Basel Convention dialogues for years and is participating in several ongoing work groups.

Signatories