The Environment Department (DOE) has taken action against 44 factories processing electronic waste (e-waste) that are operating illegally as of Dec 31, 2024, said the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.

Of the total, he said eight factories have been closed and 36 factories are currently undergoing legal action under the Environmental Quality Act (EQA)

Nik Nazmi in a statement today said that e-waste factories that also process bullet casings illegally have had production machines without any control devices seized under an Equipment Operation Detention order as per Section 38(1)(a).

He said such factories are also being investigated under Section 18 of the EQA for being an off-site storage facility for scheduled waste without obtaining a licence from the DOE.

He said investigation papers for prosecution will also be prepared for all offences under the EQA.

Nik Nazmi said the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry through the DOE is committed to ensuring that Malaysia does not become a transit or disposal site for e-waste from developed countries in line with the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal.

It stipulates that any cross-border movement of scheduled waste such as e-waste requires prior approval before transit, transhipment, import and export activities are carried out.

He said that to control the movement of e-waste through the country's main entry points, the Basel Convention has stipulated that e-waste that crosses borders must go through the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) procedure and imports that fail to comply with the procedure are categorised as illegal shipments under Article 9.

Article 9 of the Basel Convention also states that exporting countries that do not obtain approval from the importing country for merchandise categorised as scheduled waste must take back the merchandise within 30 days.

"Therefore, strict action will be taken against any importer who fails to comply with the rules and laws that have been set," said Nik Nazmi.

- Bernama