BIR Delegation Visits China

Earlier this month a delegation of the Bureau of International Recycling visited Bejing for official talks with government and industry representatives.

Marc Natan, president of the BIR Non Ferrous Division, David Lo, BIR Ambassador for China and the Far East, and Francis Veys, director general, met with senior Chinese officers from the Environment Protection Agency, the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Cooperation, the State Economic and Trade Committee, the General Customs Administration and the State Administration of Quality Inspection. The visit took place in the framework of an informative business trip prompted by recent trade controls and bans on certain secondary materials imposed by Chinese authorities, and by BIR’s wish to investigate possibilities of further improving trade conditions for its members.

During a very fruitful and open dialogue, both parties exchanged constructive comments on current and future economic and legislative issues, particularly on Chinese import restrictions, quality control and harmonized specifications for scrap materials. Both delegations agreed that regular contacts should be maintained in the future to ensure good trading conditions for a smooth supply of the Chinese market by BIR members in accordance with current Chinese and international environmental regulations.

On the same day, the BIR delegation met five national trade organizations in charge of the collection, processing and recycling of paper, iron & steel and non ferrous metals scrap. Two of these organizations are already affiliated to BIR while the other three expressed an interest in joining the federation. In line with comments made by Chinese delegates during BIR’s recent Autumn Convention in Brussels, the growing need for raw materials was stressed by the Chinese operators, who are currently involved in important national development programs.