VietNamNet Bridge – Lawmakers yesterday (Feb 20) debated the issue of waste imports while discussing the revised Environment Law at the 25th session of the National Assembly Standing Committee.

Lawmakers yesterday debated the issue of waste imports while discussing the revised Environment Law at the 25th session of the National Assembly Standing Committee.

They agreed that the law should apply to all organisations, households and individuals on Vietnamese territory, including the mainland, islands, sea and air spaces, as regulated in the 1992 Constitution.

They said the law should regulate, in detail, regulations on waste materials permitted for import and the technical criteria for waste imports. The bill noted that imported waste that includes metals, alloys, paper, glass and plastic should meet tightened technical regulations on environment protection and trading conditions.

Many deputies pointed out that the bill should regulate tighter regulations and supervision for environment protection related to waste imports. It aims to increase the responsibilities of organisations and individuals with regard to environment protection.

The NA Finance and State Budget Chairman Phung Quoc Hien suggested that it would need to review permissions for waste imports due to their serious environmental impact and to avoid letting the country become the world's waste dump.

On the process for evaluating environmental impact, the deputies agreed that large-scale projects should fall under a two-step environmental evaluation, while normal projects only require a primary environmental evaluation.

The two-step evaluation for large projects, such as large-scale hydro-power and mining plants, aims to minimise the negative impact of ongoing projects on the environment, they said.

Discussing the revised notary bill, many deputies said it should limit the working age of notaries to 65 since the job requires high professional skill, accuracy, good health and legal responsibility.

Some deputies have voiced an opposing opinion, believing the bill should not limit a notary's working age, allowing the country to make full use of their years of professional skill and experience.

The NA Social Affairs Committee Chairwoman Truong Thi Mai remarked that the labour code did not have a limit on working age, except in a few cases where the notary's age may be a source of harm. So the bill should only regulate notaries' health conditions rather than limiting their working age.

Today, deputies will discuss the amendment of some articles of the civil aviation law and the revised construction and public investment bills, and they will review the report on the implementation of the NA's Resolution 35/2012 on confident voting for positions elected or approved by the NA or by People's Councils.

Source: VNS