Accra:The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES) is considering a mechanism to blacklist companies and importers that repeatedly violate electronic waste (e-waste) laws, while also planning the future management of electric vehicle (EV) batteries.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, NRES has outlined proposals to enhance enforcement against repeat offenders, including a blacklisting mechanism, which are currently being studied by the Department of Environment (DOE). The DOE is drafting amendments to the Environmental Quality Act 1974 to support these initiatives.
The ministry highlighted that the measure aims to improve environmental governance and enforcement, tackle environmental crimes, and address the illegal importation of e-waste. This response was provided to a parliamentary question on proposed legal amendments for more stringent e-waste regulations.
NRES reported that enforcement agencies inspected 1,241 containers from 2021 to 2025, discovering e-waste in 701 of them, leading to their seizure, while 428 containers were returned to their originating countries.
In response to another inquiry about the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) mechanism for EV batteries, NRES mentioned that the mandatory requirement for manufacturers to retrieve end-of-life batteries and cover disposal costs was still under review. Further study is needed to consider its legal and financial implications and policy coordination with the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry.
The Department of Standards Malaysia, together with the Malaysia Automotive, Robotics and IoT Institute, is working on the MS 2818 Battery Passport for Electrified Vehicle standard. This initiative aims to digitally track a battery's lifecycle and is a first in the ASEAN region.
NRES also reported that DOE records indicate 13,743.15 tonnes of battery waste, classified under scheduled waste code SW103, were generated nationwide between 2021 and 2025. This waste includes all types of batteries, not just those from EVs. Seven off-site recovery facilities in various states are processing used batteries to reclaim valuable materials like lithium, nickel, and cobalt.