China EPA proposes decentralizing its scrap import licensing

China’s national Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) has proposed the decentralization of what it calls “solid waste import license approval,” which is the terminology it applies to scrap import shipments.

 

According to a September 22 report in the Beijing-based Resource Recycling magazine, the MEP has received sufficient input to create a draft of the decentralization notice, which “will be issued in October [2014].” 

 

Citing a report it received from the Shandong Materials Recycling Association, Resource Recycling reports that during the transition period, pending licenses issued by the MEP “will be automatically postponed to February 28, 2015.”

 

In the new system, should it take effect, “the provincial environmental protection department is responsible for approval” when recycling companies seek environmental permits.

 

There will remain a “national information system” using online reporting to track scrap import licenses, although “environmental protection departments will no longer issue paper licenses,” according to the Shandong Province association. This information will be passed on to China’s national Customs department.

 

Provincial environmental protection departments will continue to report their decisions and the national MEP information system will “automatically generate classes [of licenses]. Some provinces may take longer than others to create a system through which importers can apply for and eventually print out their own licenses. 

 

The Resource Recycling report, in Chinese, can be found here: hhttp://mp.weixin.qq.com/s?__biz=MjM5ODMyMjQ1Mw==&mid=249895283&idx=1&sn=1449e22fc49db0030ae16a2f16050933&scene=1&from=singlemessage&isappinstalled=0#rd.