Senate Bill Would Increase Export Controls of Electronic Waste

A Senate bill would increase export controls on electronic waste and ban exports and re-exports of the waste without a government authorization. The bill, S. 2448, introduced Sept. 9, would also require any approved electronic waste exports to only be exported for “reclamation, recall, or reuse.” Exporters would also have to file certain information in the Automated Export System, including a description and quantity of the exempted waste, the name of each country that will receive the waste, the name of the ultimate consignee and documentation that proves the consignee has “the necessary permits, resources, and competence to manage the exempted electronic waste items,” the bill said. Violators of the proposed regulations would face the same penalties as violators of the Export Administration Regulations. The bill is aimed at preventing the waste from becoming “the source of counterfeit goods that may reenter military and civilian electronics supply chains” in the U.S.