European Parliament and Council lift municipal waste export ban for shipments to Switzerland
Waste exporters and permitting authorities may resume shipments of mixed municipal waste for recovery to Switzerland, as the EU lifts the export ban for that destination
Change
On 8 July 2026 the European Parliament and Council adopted Regulation (EU) 2026/1703, amending Regulation (EU) 2024/1157 to exempt Switzerland from the Union-wide prohibition on exporting mixed municipal waste destined for recovery; the regulation is directly applicable in all Member States and enters into force 20 days after its 10 July 2026 publication.
Why it matters
The amendment replaces Article 44(2)(f) so the export ban on mixed municipal waste for recovery applies 'except to Switzerland', reversing the disruption the 21 May 2026 prohibition caused to established cross-border shipments from Union border areas to nearby Swiss recovery facilities. National competent authorities may again accept and process export consents for that destination once the Regulation takes effect, and exporters relying on consents issued before the ban should confirm those consents remain within their validity period rather than assume continuity.
Implications
- — National competent authorities for waste shipments must again accept and process export-consent applications for mixed municipal waste destined for recovery in Switzerland once the Regulation takes effect, applying the amended Article 44(2)(f) exception rather than the blanket prohibition — continuing to refuse such consents would wrongly block shipments the Union now permits.
- — Exporters and transporters of mixed municipal waste to Swiss recovery facilities must confirm they hold a valid export consent before resuming shipments — consents issued before the 21 May 2026 prohibition are valid for up to one year from issue, so operators should check each consent's remaining validity and obtain a fresh consent where it has lapsed, since shipping without a valid consent is non-compliant.
Who is affected
- — National competent authorities for waste shipments (Member State permitting authorities)
- — Municipal waste exporters and transporters to Switzerland
What to watch
- — Enters into force: 30 July 2026 — 20 days after the 10 July 2026 Official Journal publication; the amended Article 44(2)(f) exception permitting exports of mixed municipal waste to Switzerland becomes binding and directly applicable.