China imposes new registration demands on foreign scrap companies

Archiv – According to the BIR world recycling organisation, the Chinese authorities have announced new requirements that permit only those overseas companies registered as ’supply enterprises’ to export scrap and other recyclables to China.According to the BIR world recycling organisation, the Chinese authorities have announced new requirements that permit only those overseas companies registered as ’supply enterprises’ to export scrap and other recyclables to China. Registration is supposed to be completed by the exporting firm before July 1 2004. Applicants have to fulfil a range of criteria and must provisionally register free of charge with the Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People’s Republic of China (AQSIQ). CCIC inspection will still apply to these registered ’supply enterprises’.
This new measure, which was officially announced in AQSIQ note N° 115 of December 15 last year, is designed to strengthen the supervision of waste exports to China. Given that there is still no clear legal distinction between processed and unprocessed waste and that, in view of recent scandals involving unscrupulous waste management operators exporting household waste to developing countries, BIR says it can only support measures aimed at tighter controls.
BIR is negotiating with the Chinese authorities to obtain special conditions for all BIR members if they can prove that they are officially registered with their national/environmental authorities and that they meet the required quality criteria. Some years ago, a special arrangement was concluded with CCIC which offered BIR affiliates the opportunity to benefit from a self-inspection procedure under special conditions granted by Chinese customs inspection officials.