India delays new scrap shipment regulation until May 1

Author: Paul Ploumis
14 Apr 2015 Last updated at 05:25:08 GMT
NEW DELHI (Scrap Monster): Following a marathon 11-hour meeting between the Mumbai-based Metal Recycling Association of India (MRAI) and the country’s Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) authorities, the Indian government has decided to delay the proposed scrap shipment regulation until May 1.

During the meeting, MRAI representatives explained the difficulties faced by exporters, importers and Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate (PSIC) inspectors.

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) in its updated handbook on procedures had made it mandatory for all exporters to record a video of their scrap shipments to India. The new procedure, implemented with effect from April 1st, was intended to cover various shipments including iron, steel, copper, brass, nickel, aluminum, zinc, tin and magnesium scrap.

According to the new guidelines, the Pre-Shipment Inspection Agency (PSIA) in the source country was required to make a video of duration between 3 to 5 minutes covering the inspection process carried out at containers. It was supposed to include details such as date and time of inspection, name and identity number of inspecting officer, container details, the registration number details of the carriage on which the container is loaded and photograph of exporter and representative of importer.

The Bureau of Middle East Recycling (BMR) in a letter addressed to the Indian Ministry of Commerce had stated the new foreign trade policy on scrap imports as ‘not practical’. The recycling association had also warned that the new inspection regulations are likely to have serious implications on scrap metal exports from the Middle East region to India.

The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries Inc. (ISRI) also had noted that the new regulation is likely to hinder scrap shipments from overseas ports to India.