ASEAN urged to tighten environmental laws

ASEAN urged to tighten environmental laws

SINGAPORE (AFP): Less developed ASEAN countries were urged on
Friday to strengthen their environmental laws to prevent the
dumping of hazardous waste in the region or its transfer across
borders.

The call was made at the end of a two-day meeting here of the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations Inter-Parliamentary
Organization (AIPO) special committee on hazardous wastes.

"If we do not do anything to contain the import, export and
transit of hazardous waste, we will definitely run into problems
at one point or another," said Singapore parliamentarian Heng
Chiang Meng, who chaired the meeting.

A statement issued after the meeting said the delegates
deliberated on "legislation and enforcement programs for the
regulation and control of the dumping of hazardous wastes and
illegal trans-boundary movements."

Countries with lax legislation were urged by the committee to
strengthen their laws, so that "they would not be subject to the
migration of less desirable industries into their country," said
Singapore delegate Kenneth Chen.

Because of the disparity in the economic development of ASEAN
states, concern was expressed by some members that hazardous
waste could be moved to countries with less stringent
legislation, delegates said.

The committee also proposed setting up a regional center to
control and monitor the import, export and transit of hazardous
wastes and to ensure that laws are followed.

The proposed center would have information on the movement of
hazardous waste traveling through the region to help member
countries monitor and control dumping.

"The boundaries as far as the people involved in transporting
hazardous waste, whether legally or illegally, are actually quite
transparent -- it really is a regional issue," said Heng.

"Having a central mechanism will be very useful to all
nations."

The resolutions adopted by the committee would be tabled at
the 21st AIPO general assembly, to be held in Singapore this
September.

ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia,
Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

A report of the committee's findings would be sent to Myanmar
-- which did not send a delegation to the meeting -- officials
said.