Indian regulation requires recording video of scrap shipments

The Mumbai-based Metal Recycling Association of India (MRAI) is conducting meetings in an effort to stave off a regulation that requires overseas scrap shippers to record videos of their container loading process.

MRAI Secretary General Amar Singh, in an April 7, 2015, memo to member companies, says the association has been meeting with officials from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) of India to explain “the difficulties faced by exporters, importers & PSICs (Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate inspectors) of implementing the new procedures.” Singh writes that MRAI “conveyed [to the DGFT] that it is not practical to submit video recordings, etc.”

Another meeting between the MRAI and the DGFT will take place Thursday, April 9, 2015, according to Singh, “to further discuss the matter and hopefully find a workable solution.”

In the new 209-page “Handbook of Procedures“ document, which was posted to the DGFT website April 1, 2015, text in Sections 2.54 through 2.56 states that the Pre-Shipment Inspection Agency (PSIA) “will make a video clip of 3-to-5 minutes of the inspection carried out in mp3/mp4/flv/wav format, duly capturing the following activities/details:
• the time, date, place of the inspection;
• photographs of the exporter and representative of the importer (if available);
• the name and identity number of inspector;
• instrument number;
• the container number;
• the event of stuffing of container and sealing of the same;
• the carriage and its registration number on which the container is loaded; and
• the process of signing of the PSIA certificate by the authorized person.”

Forms of scrap listed by the DGFT as covered by the new procedure include iron and steel, copper and brass, nickel, aluminum, zinc, tin and magnesium scrap.

The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries Inc. (ISRI), Washington, has notified its members of the new Indian policy.

ISRI, in an early April memorandum to its members, says the regulation is “likely to cause substantial challenges for shipments already on their way to India, as well as for future shipments.”

While Singh and the MRAI are working toward a delay or repeal of the regulation, Singh wrote to members as of April 7, 2015: “Please note that no extension in the old policy has been provided and the new policy announced on 1st April will continue to remain in force until further notice.”