Posted on 26 Feb 2020
Malaysia’s Department of Environment (DOE) Malaysia has tightened the import of ferrous scrap, amongst other types, Kallanish notes. Those exporting scrap with HS codes 7204, 7404 and 7602 are required to provide a certificate for electronic-waste content as well as a depollution certificate.
Exporters are required to provide the certificates prior to cargo arrival. One of the two certificates pertains to the electronic waste content of the shipment, which has to adhere to no more than 0.3% of shipment weight. This would include wastes from electrical and electronic installations, mercury switches and glass from cathode rays. The other is to certify that the scrap cargo is free from contaminants.
The Malaysian steel industry has been in discussions with the domestic steel industry over the import of contaminated or electronic waste scrap, a Malaysian mill manager says. There are environmental concerns of the possible segregation of such wastes in the country for the re-export of valuable scrap after the Chinese import scrap ban. “We need to get a certification body to check and confirm the e-waste content, and then apply for permission from DOE,” he says. He adds that he was unsure about the impact for cargoes which are on the way.
According to the new guidelines dated 30 January and posted on the DOE website, traders are not allowed to import scrap into Malaysia without an end-user. “Everything is unclear now,” a trader says Tuesday. Mills have been informed to comply to the guidelines with immediate effect.
