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2.25. Myanmar considers environmental sustainability as a key, overarching goal which guides policy making across all areas, including trade and investment. This goal is explicitly enshrined in the 2016 Economic Policy.

2.26. The Myanmar Sustainable Development Plan (MSDP), under its Strategy 5.1 "Ensure a clean environment together with healthy and functioning ecosystems", emphasizes, inter alia, the goals to strengthen the monitoring and enforcement of environmental regulations and take serious action against environmental crimes such as the illegal trade, poaching and trafficking of protected flora and fauna; to increase the productivity and competitiveness of industrial systems through disaster and climate resilience, and low-carbon and green characteristics; and to support skills development in preparation for Myanmar's transition to a green economy.

2.27. The 2019 National Environmental Policy of Myanmar reflects a strong vision of environmental conservation, reduced impact of human interventions and harmony with development; of mining that is less harmful to the environment; and of a resilient society adaptive to climate change and natural disasters. Fostering environmental sustainability is considered an inclusive, adaptive exercise. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) including social, health and heritage assessment surveys are publicly discussed, and feedback is requested and collected via the Department's platform (https://www.ecd.gov.mm).

2.28. In the same vein the 2018 Agricultural Development Strategy champions environmental and social sustainability, recognizing that agriculture and food production have environmental impacts, and that in turn agriculture is significantly affected by environmental impacts from other sectors. It also recognizes that collective decisions must be made to balance needs for growth and income generation across the economy relative to short and long-term environmental and social impacts; that any increase in productivity through adoption of new practices and technologies must ensure the sustainable use of natural resources, in particular land, soil, water, and forestry; and that Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) should be applied for sustainable development. A range of new agro-ecological approaches are currently piloted in Myanmar, including a System of Rice Intensification (SRI), green water management, nitrogen use efficiency, conservation agriculture, agroforestry, and organic agriculture.

2.29. Myanmar allows, partially, the importation of non-food genetically modified crops intended for industrial use such as GMO cotton.

2.30. Environmental legislation underpins these ambitions, including with regard to trade. Under the Environmental Conservation Law (2012), for example, import licensing measures are in place to implement the Vienna Convention on the Protection of the Ozone Layer and the Montreal Protocol. A quick tool for customs officers assists in the screening of ODS. Under the Prevention of Hazard from Chemical and Related Substances Law (2013) multiple substances are controlled, including – apart from ODS and precursors – Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) as per the Stockholm Convention, pesticides subject to Prior Informed Consent, and chemical prohibited under the Chemical Weapons Convention.

2.31. The importation of recyclable clean scrap is under close watch. In the 2019 review of the import licensing list, the importation of the recyclable clean scrap was subject to non-automatic licensing. A technical regulation for the importation of recycleable clean scrap is currently under preparation.

2.32. Myanmar only allows the importation of the recycleable non-hazardous scraps which must be clean, homogenous, intended for direct-use in production processes and free from contamination and other types of waste.

2.33. Recycling facilities in Myanmar must have the approval of Environment Management Plan (EMP) or Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) or Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) granted by the Environmental Conservation Department, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation.

2.34. Sustainability and environmental protection, including in particular climate change related aspects and the promotion of renewable energy, figure prominently across sectoral policies and regulations including in forestry and mining.