Lok Sabha Question No. 2959 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-20
Subject: Import of Scrap
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: PANKAJ CHOWDHARY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2959(H) TO BE ANSWERED ON 20 th  MARCH, 2017

## IMPORT OF SCRAP

## 2959(H). SHRI PANKAJ CHAUDHARY

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वािणÏय एवं उɮयोग मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the policy for importing scrap from abroad;
- (b) the  names  of  the  countries  from  where  the  junk  scrap  is  being  imported  into  the country;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  taken  cognizance  of  import  of  hazardous  matrials/ items including discarded arms and ammunition along with the scrap and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether the Government proposes to put a ban on the imports of such hazardous scrap brought from  abroad and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

- (a) :  Import  of  metal  wastes  and  scrap  is  regulated  under  Hazardous  and  Other  Waste (Management  &  Trans-boundary  Movement)  Rules,  2016.  As  per  Rule  12(1)  of  the Hazardous and Other Waste Rules, 2016, import of hazardous and other wastes from any country  to  India  is  not  permitted  for  disposal.  Also  as  per  Rule  12  (2)  of  the  said  Rules, import of hazardous and other waste which includes scrap is permitted only for recycling, recovery, reuse and utilisation including co-processing.

As per the Foreign Trade Policy (2015-20), import of any form of metallic waste, scrap of any form is subject to the condition that it will not contain hazardous, toxic waste, radioactive contaminated waste/scrap containing radioactive material, any types of arms, ammunition, mines, shells, live or used cartridge or any other explosive material in any form either used or otherwise.

(b): India is importing metal scrap from almost all countries. United Arab Emirates, USA, UK, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Australia, Netherland, Singapore, Malaysia and Germany are the top ten countries, in terms of value wise import of metal scrap.

(c) & (d):  Import of metallic waste and scraps (both shredded & unshredded ) under 15 tariff lines (including those of iron, steel, copper, brass, nickel, aluminium, zinc, tin and magnesium) is 'free' subject to Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificates (PSIC) to the effect that the consignment does not have radiation level beyond the permissible limit and contract with the exporter that the consignment does not contain any arms, ammunition, mines, shells, cartridges, radioactive contaminated, or any other explosive material in any form used or otherwise. Further, while shredded scraps are allowed through all the ports in India, import of unshredded scraps is subject to port restriction, i.e., allowed only through 14 sea ports. All these ports are in the process of upgrading  facilities  like  Radiation  Portal  Monitors  and  Container  Scanners  for comprehensive inspection on metal scraps.

Metal  scraps  are  imported  only  for  the  purpose  of  recovery  and  recycling  which enables our manufactures much cheaper sources of raw materials. From the existing Rules and Guidelines as in (a) above, discarded arms and ammunitions are already under ban. Further, Schedule VI of the Hazardous and Other Waste (Management & Trans-boundary Movement) Rules, 2016 lists m etal and metal bearing wastes; wastes containing organic and inorganic constituents, with metals and organic and/or inorganic materials which are prohibited for import. These inter alia include solid plastic waste and waste pneumatic tyres for direct reuse.