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Key Changes in Regulation (EU) 2024/1157

Major Regulatory Changes in the Updated EU Waste Shipment Regulation

Last updated: March 2026 | Regulatory basis: Regulation (EU) 2024/1157

Key Points​

  • Regulation (EU) 2024/1157 replaces Regulation (EC) 1013/2006.
  • The regulation introduces digital procedures for shipment documentation.
  • DIWASS becomes mandatory from 21 May 2026.
  • The regulation strengthens enforcement and environmental safeguards.

Overview​

Regulation (EU) 2024/1157 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 April 2024 on shipments of waste was adopted following a review of the EU waste shipment framework. It repeals and replaces Regulation (EC) 1013/2006 with effect from 21 May 2026. The reform was driven by policy objectives including improved enforcement of waste shipment rules, better alignment with the circular economy and the European Green Deal, and the digitalisation of administrative procedures to enhance traceability and reduce fraud.

The updated regulation maintains the core structure of prior notification and consent for non-green-listed waste and of Annex VII documentation for green-listed waste, but it introduces significant changes in how these procedures are carried out, how enforcement is strengthened, and how export and recovery facility rules are framed. This guide summarises the major regulatory changes and their implications for operators.

This guide is based on Regulation (EU) 2024/1157 on shipments of waste, published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 30 April 2024, and on Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1290 establishing technical and operational requirements for the Digital Waste Shipment System (DIWASS). The transition from Regulation (EC) 1013/2006 is governed by Article 85 of Regulation (EU) 2024/1157 and by the repeal provision setting the application date of 21 May 2026.

Major Regulatory Changes​

Digitalisation of shipment procedures​

The most visible change is the mandatory use of electronic systems for notification, consent, movement documents, and Annex VII documentation. Article 27 of Regulation (EU) 2024/1157 requires that, from 21 May 2026, all notifications, consents, acknowledgements, objections, movement documents, Annex VII documents, and related information and decisions be transmitted and exchanged electronically—either via the Digital Waste Shipment System (DIWASS) or through national or commercial systems interconnected with it. Paper-based procedures will no longer be permitted for shipments within the scope of the Regulation. The technical and operational requirements for DIWASS are set out in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1290.

Stronger enforcement mechanisms​

The regulation reinforces the powers of competent authorities to carry out controls and to take enforcement action. It provides for improved cooperation between Member States, including the exchange of information and joint inspections. Penalties for infringements must be effective, proportionate, and dissuasive. The regulation also supports the use of risk-based controls and of digital tools to detect illegal shipments and to verify the consistency of documentation along the shipment chain.

Changes in export rules​

The regulation tightens the rules applicable to exports of waste from the European Union to third countries. It aligns export procedures with international obligations (e.g. the Basel Convention) and with the EU’s objectives of reducing exports of waste that could be managed within the Union and of ensuring that exported waste is recovered or disposed of in an environmentally sound manner. Exporters must comply with the notification and consent procedure where required and with any additional conditions imposed by the regulation or by the competent authorities.

The regulation reinforces the role of recovery and disposal facilities in the shipment procedure. It provides for the registration or recognition of facilities and for their inclusion in DIWASS, so that notifiers and authorities can verify that a facility is authorised to carry out the intended operation. Pre-consented recovery facilities and other facility-related data are integrated into the digital workflow. Facilities are responsible for issuing reception and completion certificates and for ensuring that the information they provide is accurate.

Implications for Operators​

Operators involved in transboundary waste shipments must adapt to the following:

  • Registration and access. All sites involved in a shipment (producer, notifier, facility, etc.) must be registered in DIWASS where required by the competent authority. Operators must confirm with their authority whether they must use the central DIWASS interface or may use a national or commercial system, and must obtain access and training in good time before 21 May 2026.

  • Documentation workflows. Internal procedures for preparing notifications, Annex VII documents, and movement documents must be updated to support electronic submission and to meet the data and format requirements of DIWASS. Staff responsible for shipment compliance must be trained on the new systems.

  • Coordination with authorities and other parties. The digital procedure requires timely input from notifiers, carriers, consignees, and facilities. Delays in submitting information or completing certificates can block the procedure. Operators should establish clear internal and external coordination and escalation paths.

  • Enforcement and penalties. Stricter enforcement means that non-compliance is more likely to be detected and sanctioned. Operators should ensure that every shipment is fully compliant with the Regulation and with the conditions of consent or Annex VII, and that records are kept for the required period.

Transition from Regulation (EC) 1013/2006​

Regulation (EC) 1013/2006 ceases to apply on 21 May 2026. From that date, Regulation (EU) 2024/1157 and the DIWASS implementing regulation apply in full.

Transitional rules apply to shipments already under way:

  • Notifications already acknowledged. Notifications for which the competent authority of destination has issued an acknowledgement of receipt before 21 May 2026 are completed under Regulation (EC) 1013/2006. The rest of the procedure (consent, movement documents, completion) continues under the former regulation.

  • Existing consents. Consents granted under Article 9 of Regulation (EC) 1013/2006 remain valid after 21 May 2026. The final treatment of the shipped waste must be completed by 21 May 2027 at the latest, unless otherwise provided in the Regulation.

Operators holding consents under the old regulation should confirm with their competent authority how the transition affects their shipments and what documentation and system requirements apply to the completion of those shipments.

Key References​

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

Legislative References​

[1] Regulation (EU) 2024/1157 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 April 2024 on shipments of waste

[2] Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1290 establishing technical and operational requirements for the Digital Waste Shipment System (DIWASS)

European Shipment Review provides regulatory information for compliance purposes. This guide reflects the position as of March 2026. Operators should consult their national competent authority for jurisdiction-specific requirements.