The Federation Council Upperhouse of the Russian Parliament has yet been unable to override the Russian president's veto on the federal law "On state regulation of the export of nonferrous metals scrap and waste". It takes no less than 126 votes to override the veto. When the matter was put to vote May 16th, only 74 senators voted for the bill, while 47 were against and 12 abstained.
The bill introduced temporary restriction on the export of nonferrous metals scrap and waste until Jan. 1, 2005. Its aim was to check uncontrolled export of nonferrous metals scrap and waste.
The bill was initially passed by the State Duma lower house in last November and endorsed by the Federation Council in December. The president, however, vetoed the bill.
Last month the State Duma repeatedly discussed the bill, endorsed in the previously adopted wording and overrode the presidential veto. The senators, however, deemed that restrictionson the export of nonferrous metals scrap and waste till Jan. 1, 2005, do address the main problem connected with thefts of nonferrous metals and taking them out of Russia.
In this connection the Upper House asked the president to endorse a set of measures aimed at a radical solution of the problem regarding nonferrous metals scrap and waste circulation in Russia.
Meanwhile, it was announced on May 16th that the Russian government endorsed provisions on licensing the activity to collect, reprocess and sell ferrous and nonferrous metals scrap.They will operate in full volume until the federal law on licensing is passed. BBC