Date:26/02/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/02/26/stories/2005022602900300.htm

Back Metal scrap imports: New norms for inspection agencies

K.R. Srivats

New Delhi , Feb. 25

BRANCH offices of registered inspection agencies would need to conform to certain newly specified norms of the Government if they are to be allowed to issue pre-shipment inspection certificate for metallic scrap imports.

The Government had received requests that branch offices of inspection agencies be considered for inclusion in the list of approved inspection agencies for issuance of pre-shipment inspection certificates.

After the revamp of the import policy on metallic scrap imports last year, pre-shipment inspection certificates are now a must for import of metal scrap in an unshredded or loose form. As much as 92 per cent of the metallic scrap imported (in volume terms) into the country is in unshredded form.

Metallic ferrous ores and metal scrap imports during 2003-04 stood at Rs 5,746 crore (Rs 5,022 crore during 2002-03).

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has now held through a policy circular that branch offices would be considered for inclusion only if the registered office of the recognised inspection agency gave an undertaking that the branch office had the requisite testing/inspection facilities to issue such a certificate for metallic scrap. As an alternative, the DGFT has said that branch offices may also produce a certificate to the effect that they are registered with the national accreditation body of the country of origin of the imported scrap.