The UK’s Environment Agency are now requiring used electrical items, exported in shipping containers, to be PAT (Portable Appliance Testing) & Functionality tested by a qualified tester.

This is to verify that they are fully functional without repair.  If they are not functional, the regulations consider them to be waste (WEEE) which is prohibited in non-OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) countries.  For OECD countries, they are required to be exported under notification controls.

To obtain more information, The Mover contacted the Environment Agency directly.  The Environment Agency said that it is responsible for regulating the waste industry in England and dealing with waste crime, including illegal waste exports. It said that illegally exported waste can result in significant environmental damage and harm to human health to destination countries. For that reason, “Environment Agency officers carry out pro-active and intelligence led inspections to stop waste shipments that breach regulations before they leave ports.”

The inspection is to ensure that electrical items are suitable for use in the destination country. A full packing list should be included with documentation, along with copies of the relevant PAT qualification certificates.  The Environment Agency said that, where shipments are inspected, and contents are deemed to meet the guidelines, they should progress without further delay.