In the last decades, there have been rise in the need and high demand for plastic use which attracts high production of plastic products, bringing about drastic increase in plastic pollution.
To properly control the menace plastic pollution poses to human health and the environment, it is imperative that the relevant regulatory instrument that could be enforced, as well as in line with Basel Convention Amendment already in force since January, 2021 be evolved by the Agency.
The National Policy on Plastic Waste, 2020 has provided that the Agency should develop and enforce plastic waste control regulations. The gaps identified in the existing National Policy on Plastic Waste, 2020 as well as the non-inclusion of the Basel Convention Amendment, 2019 in National Environmental (Domestic and Industrial Plastic, Rubber and Foam Sector) Regulations, 2011 the Agency held Stakeholders’ Engagement Workshop on 27th January, 2022. The objective of the meeting was to advocate and sensitize all the relevant stakeholders on domestication and transposition of Basel Convention Amendment on Plastic waste into the relevant national environmental laws, galvanize national action to address the challenges of plastic waste and their transboundary movement; as well as discuss on development of Plastic Waste Control Regulations and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for the Plastic Waste Stream.
The NESREA Act empowers the Agency to enforce all environmental laws, guidelines, policies, standards and regulations in Nigeria, prohibit the use technology that undermines environmental quality, as well as enforcing compliance with provisions of international agreements, protocols, conventions and treaties on the environment to which Nigeria is a signatory.
Therefore, it is imperative that the Agency develop a specific plastic waste regulation and EPR Operational Guidelines on plastic waste control as a tool to enforce compliance on the management of plastics and to address its pollution in Nigeria. The regulation will be as encapsulated in the National Policy for Plastic Waste Management, among other framework for solid waste management in Nigeria.

INTRODUCTION:
National Environmental Regulations are tools use to set standards in order to promote environmental governance towards attaining sustainable development. These tools also serve as instruments to address issues of environmental pollution, environmental degradation, climate change, among others.
With the emergence of new and trending environmental issues due to variety of human activities such as industrialization as well as natural causes like flood, have necessitated the need for relevant regulations to be reviewed periodically to accommodate and address them.
The National Environmental (Permitting and Licensing System) Regulations, 2009, S. I. No. 29 is among the eleven (11) National Environmental Regulations developed by the Agency in 2009. The Regulation (Permitting and Licensing Systems) seeks to control the activities of the regulated community in order to achieve statutory environmental target and outcomes such as improvement in air quality, environmental conservation and avoidance of exposure to waste, toxic and other hazardous substances, by issuing environmental permits to the Industries, Facilities, Businesses, among others.
These Environmental Permits which have significantly aided the Agency in achieving its mandate are categorized into 4 namely:
i. Air Quality Permit: Relating to issues on Industrial Emissions, Vehicular Emissions, Open Burning, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning equipment (RAC), and Noise;
ii. Waste and Toxic Substances Permit: Relating to issues on Waste Generation, Restricted Chemicals, Sludge Disposal and Effluent Discharge;
iii. Used Electrical and Electronic Equipment (UEEE) Permit: Relating to handling, import and export of UEEE; and
iv. Biodiversity Conservation Permit: Relating to issues on Assess to Genetic Resources.
OBJECTIVE:
The main objective of reviewing the National Environmental (Permitting and Licensing System) Regulations, 2009, S. I. No. 29 Regulation is to strengthen its provisions, by putting into consideration trending and emerging issues, as well as gaps identified in its implementation processes.

Burundi ratified the Cartagena Protocol in August 2008 but does not yet have a specific law for the regulation of Modified Living Organisms. However, with the assistance of the GEF and UNEP, Burundi developed a National Biosafety Framework in 2006 with a draft law on biosafety which, unfortunately, was never adopted by the authorized authorities. As Burundi is developing the Global biodiversity Framework which will take into account the issues of bio security. So, the UNEP assistance is important help Burundi to regulate the movement of LMOs.