DIWASS: mandatory from 21 May, but implementation has entered a transition phase
2026.05.29 - 11:20
As of 21 May 2026, the use of the European digital system DIWASS has become mandatory for transboundary waste shipments falling under Regulation (EU) 2024/1157. However, both before and immediately after that deadline, official confirmations showed that the platform was not yet fully working in practice, especially in the area of interconnection and Annex VII document flows. As a result, European authorities introduced a transition period for Annex VII documents until 31 December 2026, while the digital obligation for notification procedures remains in force from 21 May 2026.
The entry into application of DIWASS marks one of the most important operational changes in recent years for companies involved in transboundary waste shipments within the European Union. The new regulation requires the shift from paper-based documentation to electronic exchange of data and documents, with the stated objective of improving traceability, speeding up administrative procedures and reducing the risks of illegal shipments. In practice, however, the signals coming from the market were also confirmed at institutional level. On its official DIWASS page, the European Commission states that during the 27 March 2026 meeting of the Expert Group on Waste, participants discussed the challenges related to ensuring the proper and timely functioning of the interconnection between the central DIWASS system and local systems, especially for Annex VII document exchanges. The same source indicates that these difficulties concerned both the connection of competent authorities and the readiness of economic operators and software providers that need to use or feed the system. A clear indication of the nature of these problems also comes from official communications published in Germany. The federal environment ministry and the authorities of the Länder stated that the technical documentation required for the connection interfaces became available only late, in January 2026, and continued to be updated afterwards, which made full implementation by 21 May 2026 difficult or impossible. The same document explains that these technical delays were precisely the reason why a transitional solution had to be introduced for certain documentation flows. The most important clarification for the industry concerns the difference between the two major categories of procedures. For shipments using the Annex VII document, which generally means green-list waste shipments intended for recovery, Member States may continue during a transitional period to accept the previously used format until 31 December 2026. By contrast, for notification and prior written consent procedures, where the regime is stricter, the obligation to use DIWASS remains applicable from 21 May 2026. This distinction is essential for companies active in plastics recycling. A significant share of intra-EU plastic waste flows intended for recycling or recovery falls in practice under Annex VII documentation, which means operators are not forced to stop shipments immediately simply because the platform is not yet fully operational. However, this should not be interpreted as a general postponement of digitalisation, but rather as a limited adaptation window granted in order to allow technical connectivity and onboarding processes to be completed. For the Romanian market, the immediate effect is mixed. On the one hand, there is official confirmation that the dysfunctions are not merely isolated perceptions from operators, but part of a wider European implementation problem. On the other hand, companies should treat the period until 31 December 2026 as an accelerated preparation interval rather than a suspension of the new requirements, because from 1 January 2027 the obligation to use the digital system must also be fully applied to Annex VII flows. For the plastics and recycling sector, the DIWASS situation sends a clear message: the digitalisation of waste shipments is moving forward, but the technical implementation has not kept pace with the legal calendar. From the perspective of Plastinfo.eu, the coming months will be decisive for operators exporting or importing recyclable waste, as the transitional relief now granted should be used for testing, adjusting internal procedures and clarifying the working relationship with authorities and logistics partners. 📌 Don't wait until the last minute. Download the free Practical DIWASS 2026 Guide from plastinfo.eu and get your company ready for the full digital transition. Link below: https://plastinfo.eu/downloads/doc1/diwass-en.pdf 📌 More Info: • European Commission – Green Forum, DIWASS page: https://green-forum.ec.europa.eu/green-business/digital-waste-shipment-system-diwass_en • German Federal Environment Ministry: https://www.bundesumweltministerium.de/en/report/aktuelle-information-des-bmukn-und-der-laender-zum-digital-waste-shipment-system-diwass • FEDIL: https://fedil.lu/fr/publications/waste-shipment-regulation-introduction-of-a-transition-period-for-new-reporting-obligations-as-of-21-may-2026-diwass/