DIWASS FAQ: learn how the EU’s Digital Waste Shipment System works, including notifications, movement documents, Annex VII procedures and access rules.
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The European Union has entered a new phase in the digitalisation of waste shipment procedures with the rollout of DIWASS, the Digital Waste Shipment System. Developed by the European Commission under the Waste Shipment Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2024/1157), DIWASS is designed to replace paper-based administrative processes with a harmonised digital platform across Europe.
Although DIWASS officially entered into force in May 2026, its development and implementation across Europe have not been without challenges. The system allows different implementation models, making coordination across Member States complex. Operators have also highlighted the limited time available for onboarding, testing and training before mandatory use began. In addition, Annex VII procedures remain one of the most sensitive areas, with a temporary transition period allowing paper-based documentation in certain cases until the end of 2026.
In this article, we explore the most frequently asked questions about DIWASS, from the basics to more technical topics, in order to clarify the key concepts behind this new European digital platform for waste shipments.
DIWASS (Digital Waste Shipment System) is the European Union’s central digital system for the electronic submission and exchange of information and documents related to transboundary shipments of waste.
The system is designed to digitalise waste shipment procedures across the EU, replacing paper-based processes and facilitating the exchange of information between economic operators and competent authorities.
The Waste Shipment Regulation makes digitalisation a central element of the EU’s waste shipment framework. Historically, many cross-border waste shipment procedures have relied on paper-based documentation, fragmented national systems and manual administrative processes.
According to the European Commission, DIWASS is intended to simplify administrative procedures by enabling the electronic submission and exchange of information and documents between economic operators and competent authorities.
The system is also expected to strengthen the monitoring and traceability of waste shipments, support more effective enforcement against illegal waste trafficking, improve transparency across Member States, and facilitate the movement of waste destined for recycling, thereby contributing to the EU’s circular economy objectives.
The mandatory use of DIWASS for waste shipment notification procedures under Regulation (EU) 2024/1157 started on 21 May 2026.
Since that date, competent authorities and economic operators involved in transboundary waste shipments subject to prior written notification and consent, where an EU Member State acts as the country of dispatch, destination or transit, are required to submit and exchange the relevant information and documents through DIWASS.
Movement documents associated with notified shipments must also be processed electronically through the system, replacing the previous paper-based procedures.
Yes.
However, some competent authorities have communicated temporary transitional arrangements regarding the practical implementation of electronic Annex VII procedures. Operators should therefore verify the specific requirements and guidance issued by the competent authorities involved in the shipment.
The long-term objective of the Regulation remains the full digitalisation of waste shipment procedures through DIWASS.
Operators can access DIWASS through the EU login portal available here:
https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/env-traces/login
Access requires an EU Login account with multi-factor authentication enabled.
According to the European Commission, DIWASS covers several operational areas under the Waste Shipment Regulation:
Including the submission of notifications, requests for additional information, replies from notifiers, and consent or objection decisions by the competent authorities involved.
Including the generation and submission of movement documents, as well as their completion by carriers, consignees and waste receiving facilities.
Including the generation and submission of Annex VII documents for shipments subject to the general information requirements as well as their completion by carriers, consignees and waste receiving facilities.
DIWASS does not manage the application process to obtain pre-consent. However, it provides an overview of pre-consented facilities in Member States and manages the adapted shipment procedures for shipments to those facilities under Article 14.
DIWASS also covers certificates confirming the completion of subsequent waste treatment operations performed in a facility located in the same country as the country of destination.
Yes. According to the European Commission, DIWASS can be accessed through different channels:
Access to documents and information in DIWASS is role-based. Only the economic operators and competent authorities involved in a specific waste shipment can access the relevant information for that shipment.
For notification procedures, draft notifications are visible only to the notifier and the selected waste producers. Once submitted, access is extended to the competent authorities listed in the notification, as well as the consignee and the waste receiving facility. After all relevant authorities have given their consent, the selected carriers may also access the notification and certain attachments.
For movement documents, draft documents are visible only to the notifier. Once submitted, access is granted to the competent authorities, the selected carrier or carriers, and the consignee, waste producer or producers, and waste receiving facility linked to the notification.
For Annex VII documents, drafts are visible only to the person arranging the shipment and the selected waste producers. Once submitted, access is extended to the competent authorities of the countries concerned, as well as the carriers, consignee and waste treatment facility named in the document.
EU inspection authorities have read-only access to documents and information submitted in DIWASS, but they cannot access drafts.
DIWASS automatically applies the rules and procedures established by the Waste Shipment Regulation. As documents move through the different stages of a shipment, the system assigns specific statuses that determine who can access them and what actions can be performed.
The status of a document controls both user permissions and workflow progression.
DIWASS also creates a direct link between notification documents and the movement documents generated from them. As a result, the system automatically enforces several regulatory requirements:
You can consult the document available on this page for an overview of the competent authorities in each EU country, including contact details and practical information related to DIWASS implementation and waste shipment procedures.
You can find this information in the official document available on this page.
The Commission will provide support only for technical issues directly relating to the functioning of DIWASS. In this respect, the Commission’s central Helpdesk can be contacted at: SANTE-TRACES@ec.europa.eu by operators (with respect to API interconnection) and competent authorities.
Everything you need to know about DIWASS in one simple, practical guide.
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