India to discuss EU waste transportation rules affecting scrap metal imports

The Indian Ministry of Commerce is seeking bilateral intergovernmental negotiations with the European Union (EU) on the proposed latest "Waste Transportation Rule", which is due to enter into force in 2027 and which is expected to stifle shipments of ferrous scrap to India, Indian government sources said on Thursday, June 25.

The sources said that the Ministry of Commerce assessed that since India is heavily dependent on high-quality scrap coming from developed regions such as Europe and the United States, restrictions under EU regulations on waste transportation could seriously affect the availability of recycled materials for Indian steel mills.

The Machinery Export Promotion Council (EEPC), an Indian government-backed industry representative body, has also asked the government to open negotiations with the EU on the issue.

India imports about 9 million tons of ferrous scrap per year.

The Indian Materials Recycling Association (MRAI), in a letter to the government, also sought policy changes to facilitate scrap imports, including the exemption of scrap from proposed Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) obligations and the removal of the mandatory requirement for pre-shipment inspection certification of scrap imported into the country.