Environmental policy integration in customs operations : the case of hazardous waste controls in Malta

Abstract

Purpose: This dissertation aims to analyse how the Malta Customs Department (MCD) integrates environmental policies into the regulation of transboundary hazardous waste. Design: This study employs a qualitative, multi-method approach, combining documentary analysis of EU, international, and national sources with comparative case studies from Belgium, the Netherlands, Japan, the Czech Republic, Greece, Kenya, and Nigeria. It also includes five semi-structured interviews with officials from MCD, the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA), and the Commission for the Protection from Ionising and Non-Ionising Radiation (RPC). The analysis is guided by frameworks such as Institutional Isomorphism, Environmental Policy Integration, Multi-Level Governance, and Europeanisation. Findings: The findings reveal a strong legislative framework, such as Malta’s ban on importing hazardous waste and its compliance with EU laws; however, operational practices remain inconsistent. Enforcement relies on technical guidance from ERA and radiological expertise from RPC, but systems for intelligence and data sharing are underdeveloped. Key gaps in training and capacity remain, and while inter-agency cooperation exists, it is mostly informal. Research limitations: The study’s limitations include a small interview sample, reliance on secondary sources for international cases, and a lack of time and resources, which are common for undergraduate projects. Conclusion: This research demonstrates that environmental policy integration within the MCD service exists but remains incomplete, especially in enhancing capacity, data infrastructure, and cooperation. Policy recommendations include formalising relations between Customs and ERA, establishing joint training, developing an integrated data platform linking environmental permits with Customs, expanding monitoring equipment at secondary ports and the airport, and revising standard operating procedures based on lessons learned from joint operations. The findings are also relevant to other small EU member states and candidate countries adopting the EU's environmental acquis.