I ship products and waste from outside the EU to Poland – how do I avoid border stoppages and ensure compliance across the entire supply chain?

Client

Leading producer and recycler in the metals sector

The situation

Cross-border movement of products and waste – particularly from countries outside the EU – is one of the most complex areas of environmental law. Rules differ between jurisdictions, the classification of the same materials as “product” or “waste” may vary between the country of dispatch and the country of receipt, and a classification error means a shipment stopped at the border, penalties and reputational risk. A metals recycling manufacturer was conducting regular imports of materials from non-EU countries by sea. The key challenge was organising the entire supply chain in a way that ensured uninterrupted receipt of these materials in compliance with the regulations.

Our role

We developed comprehensive recommendations for organising the international transport of products and waste from non-EU countries, covering: material classification and legal qualification of shipments across jurisdictions, template contracts with carriers and counterparties protecting the client in the event of classification disputes, and internal material receipt procedures ensuring compliance at every stage of the supply chain. The solution had to be simultaneously legally sound and operationally realistic – it could not disrupt production continuity.

The result

The client obtained a comprehensive legal and operational framework for its supply chain. The case shows that in cross-border movement of waste and products, prevention is paramount: properly structured procedures and contracts eliminate the risk of a border stoppage before it materialises.

Do you import materials or waste from outside the EU and want certainty that your supply chain is fully compliant? We can help.