The restrictions stem from the regulation on the transport of waste, which will come into force in May 2027

The European Commission has proposed removing a number of countries – which are major consumers of ferrous scrap – from the list of recipients of materials from the EU, a move that could disrupt established trade flows, reports Argus Media.

On 18 September, the European Commission published a draft list of countries outside the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) that are permitted to receive certain types of safe waste. Thirty-two countries have submitted requests to retain access. However, under the proposal, major importers of ferrous scrap – notably Egypt, Morocco, Bangladesh, India and Pakistan – will be excluded from the list of recipient countries for such materials.

The volume of scrap exports from the European Union to some of the markets listed has risen sharply over the last few years.

As stated in the institution’s announcement, the new Waste Shipment Regulation (WSR) will come into force in May 2027. Countries that still wish to import safe waste under this framework must notify the European Commission and confirm that the waste will be managed in an environmentally sound manner. The first list of approved countries is expected by the end of this year.

The draft legislation is open for consultation for four weeks (from 18 September to 16 October); feedback will be taken into account when finalising the proposal.

As BigMint notes, the draft currently prohibits the export of scrap to India, although it is not yet final. As far as the country is concerned, ferrous steel and aluminium scrap are at the greatest risk.  Raw materials from the EU account for around 20–25% of imports in the first category.

India has applied to import several categories of waste from the EU, including steel waste. Following an assessment, the European Commission concluded that the country had not demonstrated that it had put in place the necessary measures to ensure the environmentally sound management of the latter; however, it does, for example, meet the requirements for the handling of paper, wood and similar materials. Steel waste is the main exception.

Sanjay Mehta, President of the Materials Recycling Association of India (MRAI), told the agency that India’s exclusion from the EU’s proposed authorised list of steel waste is a cause for serious concern for both Indian and European recyclers, given the country’s importance as a destination for European scrap.

According to him, the MRAI is currently seeking a solution in collaboration with the government. The association plans to hold consultations with industry stakeholders and submit a formal application, which is scheduled for 15 October.

One of the proposals under consideration is the introduction of a separate HS code for processed secondary raw materials (the ‘End-of-Waste’ category). The idea is to draw a clear distinction between ordinary waste and high-quality processed scrap or secondary raw materials that meet specific technical requirements. Such an approach could enable the continued flow of high-quality raw materials into India.

In 2025, scrap exports from the European Union to third countries totalled 16.31 million tonnes, up 4.4% year-on-year.  Turkey remains the key destination, having imported 10.78 million tonnes of scrap (+2.2% year-on-year) and accounting for over 65% of the bloc’s total exports. Egypt recorded the fastest growth among the main buyers – up 11.6% to 1.83 million tonnes – consolidating its position as the third-largest importer.