The Indian Directorate General of Foreign Trade has issued Public Notice No. 18 dated 21/10/2004 on the import of metal waste and scrap in order to make the Pre-inspection Certificate referred to in Para 2.32 of the Handbook of Procedure conform to the new provisions laid down vide Public Notice N0. 16 dated Oct. 15, 2004.
The notice limits the import of metallic scrap, other than shredded scrap, to 15 ports throughout India and require that such shipments undergo pre-shipment inspection by one of 23 approved Inspection & Certification agencies. The pre-shipment inspection certificate would confirm that the shipment “does not contain any type of arms, ammunition, mines, shells, cartridges, radioactive contaminated or any other explosive material in any form either used or otherwise.”
The pre-inspection certificate would also note the country of origin and confirm that the material conforms to internationally accepted specifications.
The procedure for import of metallic waste and scrap had earlier been tightened with the imposition of port restrictions and a system of 100 percent inspection by Customs authorities. Indicating a further tightening of norms,
Shipping companies would be advised to load cargo in the vessel only with pre-shipment inspection certificates, wherever necessary. The Minister further said that the Home Ministry would shortly be issuing an advisory specifying a period within which voluntary disclosure of material of combustible nature in the possession of importing units, if any, would have to be made. This would prevent such material from being abandoned at various places, causing risk to human life and property.
The meeting was attended by representatives of the Department of Steel, Ministry of Shipping, Department of Commerce, Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion, Ministry of Home Affairs and the Central Board of Excise and Customs, Ministry of Finance, besides the Director General of Foreign Trade and representatives of two industry associations, namely, Steel Furnace Association of India and The All India Induction Furnaces Association.
A Public Notice (No. 15) dated Sept. 9, 2004 was issued by the DGFT laying down the revised procedure for import of metallic waste and scrap. These amendments were as follows: Import of metallic waste and scrap shall be permitted in shredded and compacted form only; however, metallic waste and scrap in unshredded and uncompacted form may be imported through the major ports (covered by the Major Port Trusts Act, 1963) and the Inland Container Depot at Tughalakabad, New Delhi only.
The customs authorities shall carry out 100 percent inspection of such unshredded and uncompacted materials. ii. "Provided in case of import of metal scrap originating from a country affected by rebellion or war, the exporter shall furnish the following documents to the Customs at the time of clearance of goods". iii. Notwithstanding anything contained above, the consignments, which have already arrived at the ports and which have left their ports or origin will be subject to 100 percent.