In Chile, the Superintendence of the Environment (SMA) is inspecting tyre importers to verify compliance with the country’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Law and identify companies potentially evading their obligations
The inspections in Chile focus on importers required to comply with Law No. 20.920 and Supreme Decree No. 8/2019, which establishes collection and recovery targets for end-of-life tyres (ELTs) that have been in force since 20 January 2023.
The SMA’s Enforcement Division has cross-referenced import data from the National Customs Service to determine whether companies were registered with authorised individual management systems or participating in authorised collective management systems between 2022 and 2026. These systems coordinate the collection and recovery of generated waste.
Emanuel Ibarra, SMA Superintendent, commented: “The Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Law represents a structural change in our country’s waste management model, and its effectiveness depends on the rigorous and equitable compliance of all regulated actors. Through information sharing with Customs, we are monitoring the tyre import market to ensure all companies fulfil their environmental obligations and to prevent unfair competition or evasion that could hinder the achievement of environmental goals. This is also part of a broader strategy of oversight and the initiation of sanctioning procedures that we will begin to implement.”
The enforcement activities have included on-site inspections and requests for information. Importers have been asked to provide details of their imports between 2022 and 2026, their operational processes, and the management of associated scrap, losses and waste.
The SMA said it would continue its inspections and technical analysis in coordination with relevant public authorities to strengthen compliance, identify potential irregularities and ensure the proper environmental management of tyres in Chile.
Source: Superintendencia del Medio Ambiente (SMA)
