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DIWASS System Architecture

Technical Structure of the EU Digital Waste Shipment System

Last updated: March 2026 | Regulatory basis: Regulation (EU) 2024/1157; Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1290

Key Points​

  • DIWASS functions as a digital infrastructure for managing documentation related to transboundary waste shipments.
  • The system supports both direct access through a web interface and integration with national or commercial systems.
  • DIWASS operates as an interoperability hub enabling secure exchange of shipment information between participating systems.
  • The architecture is defined under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1290.

Overview​

The Digital Waste Shipment System (DIWASS) is designed to digitise waste shipment procedures, enable cross-border information exchange between competent authorities and operators, and ensure traceability of shipment documentation. It functions as an interoperability platform rather than a single standalone application: the system connects economic operators, competent authorities, national waste shipment platforms, and commercial software solutions through a common technical framework.

This guide describes the technical architecture and operational structure of DIWASS, including how data flows between operators and authorities, how national systems and commercial software connect to the platform, and the role of the European Commission in operating the system.

The architecture of DIWASS is defined under Regulation (EU) 2024/1157 on shipments of waste and Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1290 establishing technical and operational requirements for the Digital Waste Shipment System (DIWASS).

The implementing regulation specifies:

  • Technical specifications for the DIWASS platform, including the graphical user interface and the interoperability hub.
  • Data exchange formats and message standards for the transmission of notifications, consents, movement documents, and Annex VII documentation.
  • System interoperability rules governing how national systems and commercial software connect to DIWASS and exchange data.
  • Security requirements for authentication, data transmission, and the protection of regulatory information.

Compliance with these requirements is necessary for national systems and commercial software to integrate with DIWASS.

Core Components of DIWASS​

DIWASS Graphical User Interface (GUI)​

The European Commission provides a central web interface through which operators and authorities may access DIWASS directly. This graphical user interface (GUI) supports:

  • Direct operator access — Users register and authenticate to create and submit documentation, view procedure status, and communicate with competent authorities.
  • Document creation and submission — Notifications, Annex VII documents, movement documents, and related forms are completed and submitted through the interface.
  • Workflow management — The interface guides users through the steps of notification procedures, consent tracking, and completion certificates.
  • Communication with authorities — Notifications and supporting information are transmitted to competent authorities via the platform; decisions and acknowledgements are received through the same channel.

This interface is particularly relevant for operators in Member States that do not operate national shipment management systems connected to DIWASS, or for operators who choose to use the central EU portal rather than a national or commercial system.

Interoperability Hub​

DIWASS functions as a central data exchange platform (interoperability hub) through which participating systems exchange shipment-related information. The hub enables:

  • Data exchange between Member States — Competent authorities in different Member States exchange notifications, consents, objections, and completion information through DIWASS in a standardised format.
  • Communication between national systems — Where a Member State operates a national waste shipment platform, that platform connects to the hub to send and receive data required under Regulation (EU) 2024/1157.
  • Integration with commercial software — Third-party software used by operators may connect to the hub via defined interfaces, allowing documentation to be submitted and received without using the DIWASS GUI directly.

This architecture allows Member States to maintain existing national systems while ensuring that all required information is exchanged with other Member States and with the Commission through DIWASS. The hub does not replace national systems; it provides the common layer through which they interoperate.

Integration with National Systems​

Several Member States operate national platforms for waste shipment management. These systems may be connected to DIWASS through the interoperability hub, so that data are synchronised between the national system and the central platform.

Topics relevant to this integration include:

  • Data synchronisation — Notifications, consents, movement documents, and completion certificates created or received in the national system are transmitted to DIWASS and vice versa, ensuring that all competent authorities and the Commission have access to the same information.
  • Submission of shipment notifications — Notifiers may submit notifications through the national platform; the national system forwards the data to DIWASS so that the competent authority of destination and other concerned authorities receive it in accordance with the regulation.
  • Exchange of consent decisions — Consent, consent with conditions, or objection decisions issued by competent authorities are recorded in the national system and transmitted via the hub so that they are visible in DIWASS and to other connected systems.

Operators may therefore interact with national platforms instead of the DIWASS interface where the competent authority has made such an arrangement. The technical connection between the national system and the hub is governed by the implementing regulation and by the technical documentation published by the European Commission.

Integration with Commercial Software​

The DIWASS architecture allows commercial software solutions used by operators (e.g. for waste management, logistics, or compliance) to connect to the platform via the interoperability hub.

Relevant aspects include:

  • API-based integration — Software providers integrate with DIWASS using the application programming interfaces (APIs) and data formats specified in the Commission’s technical documentation. This allows automated submission and retrieval of shipment documentation.
  • Automated document submission — Operators using commercial software may prepare notifications, Annex VII documents, and movement documents within their existing systems; the software transmits the data to DIWASS (or to a national system connected to DIWASS) on their behalf.
  • Synchronisation of shipment records — Status updates, consent decisions, and completion certificates can be received by the software and displayed to the operator, keeping shipment records consistent with the authoritative data held in DIWASS.

Software providers must comply with the technical requirements defined by the European Commission in the implementing regulation and in the published technical documentation. Operators should verify that their software provider has implemented the connection in accordance with these requirements.

Data Exchange and Security​

The system supports secure exchange of regulatory information between the Commission, competent authorities, and connected systems. The implementing regulation and related technical documentation define how this is achieved.

Topics include:

  • Authentication of system users — Access to the DIWASS interface and to connected systems is subject to authentication mechanisms to ensure that only authorised users and systems can submit or retrieve data.
  • Secure data transmission — Data exchanged via the interoperability hub are transmitted using secure protocols and standards specified by the Commission to protect confidentiality and integrity.
  • Validation of shipment documentation — The platform supports validation of data formats and mandatory fields so that documentation submitted by operators or via national or commercial systems meets the requirements of the regulation.
  • Traceability of regulatory decisions — Notifications, consents, objections, movement documents, and completion certificates are stored and linked so that the full lifecycle of a shipment can be traced for oversight and compliance purposes.

Security and interoperability standards are defined within the implementing regulation and in the European Commission’s DIWASS technical documentation.

Operational Implications for Operators​

The architecture of DIWASS has several practical implications for companies involved in waste shipments:

  • Operators may use different access pathways — Depending on the Member State and the arrangements put in place by the competent authority, operators may access DIWASS via the central web interface, a national waste shipment platform, or commercial software. The choice of pathway affects how they register, submit documentation, and receive decisions.
  • Shipment data may be transmitted through national systems or commercial platforms — Data do not always pass directly through the DIWASS GUI; they may be entered in a national system or in commercial software and then exchanged with DIWASS via the interoperability hub. From a regulatory perspective, the requirement is that the data are present in DIWASS and exchanged in the correct format.
  • Operators should confirm access arrangements with their competent authority — The competent authority in each Member State determines which access options are available (direct DIWASS access, national system, or commercial software) and any conditions or registration requirements. Operators should confirm these arrangements before the mandatory application date.

For further detail on registration and access, see the main Digital Waste Shipment System (DIWASS) overview page (Registration of Operators and Sites, Compliance Implications).

Key References​

  • Regulation (EU) 2024/1157 on shipments of waste
  • Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1290 establishing technical and operational requirements for the Digital Waste Shipment System (DIWASS)
  • European Commission DIWASS technical documentation

European Shipment Review provides regulatory information for compliance purposes. This guide describes the technical architecture of DIWASS as reflected in EU legislation and Commission documentation. For implementation details and access arrangements, operators should consult their national competent authority.