BIR’s International Trade Council Discusses Ways to Improve Movement of Recyclables

The meeting of the Bureau of International Recycling’s International Trade Council, held during the recently concluded spring meeting in Istanbul, focused a significant amount of attention on ways the industry could promote the free shipment of recyclables.

ITC’s Chairman Robert Voss, Voss International, noted that there have been active discussions in regards to trading of recyclables and recent legislation in a host of countries, including China, India, Turkey, South Africa, Russia, Kenya and Tanzania.

The ITC noted one key success it had in halting a South African ban on aluminum scrap exports.

On the other side, attendees expressed concern over the growing interest in access to raw materials, adding that the EU and the OECD were carrying out studies of this subject which, it was feared, could eventually lead to some hindrance to the free movement of recyclables, according to Voss.

Another area of significant concern has been the implementation of Notice 21 in China, which is designed to eliminate under-declaration of consignment values by demanding individual packaging of each item contained in a mixed load. According to David Chiao, Uni-All Group, BIR’s ambassador for China, there have been indications that Chinese authorities would regard Zorba (defined by ISRI as shredded nonferrous scrap, predominantly aluminum) as a single item so long as the proportion of other materials did not exceed two percent by weight. For mixed loads of one type of aluminum, a detailed analysis of the contents appeared likely to be required.

Chiao also explained that the AQSIQ registration renewal process would begin July 1 for overseas suppliers whose licenses were scheduled to expire on December 31, 2010. Certification to ISO 9001, RIOS or an equivalent quality assurance standard would be required for first-time applicants for an AQSIQ license.

Voss also noted that Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Trade recently introduced new provisions for exports of copper scrap that included requirements to prove an overseas sales connection and to obtain written confirmation from three consumers in Turkey that the material for export was not suitable for their needs. This “very restrictive procedure” was being taken up with the EU and the Turkish government, delegates learned.

BIR’s Ambassador for the Indian Sub-continent Ikbal Nathani of the Nathani Group of Companies highlighted the key role recycling industry representatives played in convincing the Indian government to overturn its classification of ferrous and non-ferrous scrap as “hazardous”. Nathani urged government officials to resolve the duplication of paperwork demanded of India’s scrap importers; and on a separate issue, he called for the installation of radiation detection equipment to be made compulsory for India’s steel mills and non-ferrous metals consumers.