BIR questions new Italian regulation on scrap imports

Archiv – The Brussels, Belgium-based world recycling organisation BIR is somewhat puzzled by a new regulation in Italy, which, according to the Italian association Assofermet, enables ferrous and non ferrous scrap operators to ship their materials into Italy as secondary raw materials and not as waste, provided they are registered on a special list on the Italian national register of waste management companies.The Brussels, Belgium-based world recycling organisation BIR is somewhat puzzled by a new regulation in Italy, which, according to the Italian association Assofermet, enables ferrous and non ferrous scrap operators to ship their materials into Italy as secondary raw materials and not as waste, provided they are registered on a special list on the Italian national register of waste management companies.
The registration requires that the foreign company apply in writing, together with a compliance certificate of the competent authority of the respective country, which must confirm that the exporting company has indeed processed that waste material in accordance with the Italian technical rules in force for the production of secondary raw materials.
It is however very doubtful that national authorities in foreign countries would be able to provide such a certificate, simply because they are probably completely unaware of the Italian regulations or because they refuse to abide by another country’s rules.
BIR also questions the fact that the regulation only covers ferrous and non ferrous scrap and completely ignores other recyclables.
Assofermet is currently addressing their competent national authority with further legal and technical questions on the decree.
You can find a copy of the circular issued by Assofermet as well as an unconfirmed summary translation into English on the BIR website