Indian Government Tightens Scrap Metal Imports

The Indian government tightened norms for import of metal waste and scrap, particularly from a country affected by war, in order to address concerns over import of hazardous material, which were heightened by the recent blast in a steel factory.

According to various reports, a Directorate General of Foreign Trade notification said that import of metallic waste and scrap would be permitted only in shredded or compacted form.

The import of unshredded and uncompacted waste will be allowed only after total inspection through major ports and Inland Container Depot in Tughlaqabad.

For imports of scrap from rebellion-or war-affected country, certain documents will have to be furnished to the customs department.

Previously the metal scrap had been allowed to be imported without license, but there have been a set of prescribed norms to prevent the entry of hazardous material through import of metals.

In referencing the explosion at the Indian steel mill, which killed a number of people, Commerce Minister Kamal Nath said that he would examine the current policy on metal scrap to prevent recurrence of Ghaziabad-like incidents.

"We are examining it (scrap import policy) to ensure that such kind of things do not happen again," he had said.

Rocket, anti-missile and anti-tank shells were found in iron scrap imported from Iran in the Bhusan steel factory in Ghaziabad leading to the blast.