From January 1, 2021 , China will completely ban the import of solid waste. Scrap iron and steel, pressed pieces of scrap cars, and scrap ships are subcategories of solid waste, and of course imports are also prohibited.
However, as the iron and steel industry is the basic industry of the national economy, the rise in iron ore prices will affect the healthy and sustainable development of the iron and steel industry. In order to expand ferrite resources, on December 30, 2020 , the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the National Development and Reform Commission, the General Administration of Customs, the Ministry of Commerce, and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology issued the "Announcement on Regulating the Import Management of Recycled Iron and Steel Raw Materials", indicating that Recycled iron and steel raw materials that meet the standards of "Recycled Iron and Steel Raw Materials" (GB/T 39733-2020) are not solid waste and can be imported freely. Effective from January 1, 2021.
According to the announcement of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment and the national standards, this paper compares the difference between recycled steel raw materials and traditional scrap steel; sorts out the process of China's imported scrap steel and scrap automobile pressing parts transforming into recycled steel raw materials; summarizes relevant government documents. Have a preliminary understanding of China's import process of scrap iron and steel and the import of recycled iron and steel raw materials.
- The difference between recycled steel raw materials and traditional scrap steel
The "Announcement" positions recycled iron and steel raw materials as high-quality recycled raw material products, which are high-quality and recyclable ferrite resources, which are essentially different from traditional scrap iron and steel.
1. Recycled iron and steel raw materials are reclaimed iron and steel materials that have been sorted and processed, and can be directly used as ferrite resources in furnaces.
2. The processing process of recycled iron and steel raw materials emphasizes the classification and treatment of recycled steel products according to the requirements of source, physical specification, chemical composition, use, etc., and becomes a specific type of recycled iron and steel raw material products.
3. Recycled iron and steel raw materials have strict regulations on the non-metallic inclusions mixed in the process of production, collection, packaging and transportation, according to the category and grade, and specify the detection methods in detail, providing guarantee for the quality of recycled iron and steel raw materials important basis and support.
- Import process stages of scrap iron and steel
(1) Gradually restrict the import of scrap iron and steel, scrap automobiles and scrap ships
1. Non-restricted import of scrap iron and steel
Basis: Announcement on Issuing the Catalog of Imported Waste Management (2017)
Execution time: from December 31, 2017
Specific catalog: "Catalogue of Non-restricted Imported Solid Wastes That Can Be Used as Raw Materials"
| Customs commodity number |
waste name |
certificate name |
Applicable environmental protection control standards |
|
| 7 |
7204100000 |
cast iron scrap |
GB 16487.6 |
|
| 8 |
7204290000 |
Other alloy steel scrap |
scrap steel |
GB 16487.6 |
| 9 |
7204300000 |
Tinned steel scrap |
scrap steel |
GB 16487.6 |
| 10 |
7204410000 |
Iron and steel scrap from machining |
scrap steel |
GB 16487.6 |
| 11 |
7204490090 |
Unspecified iron and steel scrap |
scrap steel |
GB 16487.6 |
| 12 |
7204500000 |
Scrap steel ingots for remelting |
scrap steel |
GB 16487.6 |
2. Restricted import of waste vehicles and ships
Basis: Announcement on Issuing the Catalog of Imported Waste Management (2017)
Execution time: from December 31, 2017
Specific catalog: "Catalogue of Restricted Imported Solid Wastes that Can Be Used as Raw Materials"
| serial number |
Customs commodity number |
waste name |
certificate name |
Applicable environmental protection control standards |
| 28 |
7204490010 |
Scrap Automobile Compression |
Scrap Automobile Compression |
GB 16487.13 |
| 29 |
7204490020 |
Scrap hardware and electrical appliances mainly recycled steel |
Scrap hardware and electrical appliances mainly recycled steel |
GB 16487.10 |
| 30 |
7602000010 |
Waste motors, etc., mainly for recycling copper |
Waste motors, etc., mainly for recycling copper |
GB 16487.8 GB 16487.9 GB 16487.10 |
| 31 |
7602000010 |
Waste electric wires, etc., mainly recycled aluminum |
Waste electric wires, etc., mainly recycled aluminum |
GB 16487.9 GB 16487.10 |
| 32 |
8908000000 |
Vessels and other floating structures intended for demolition |
Hulk, excluding aircraft carriers |
GB 16487.11 |
3. Waste cars and ships are prohibited from being imported
Basis: Announcement on Adjusting the Catalog of Imported Waste Management
Execution time: from December 31, 2018
Specific catalog: "Catalogue of solid waste adjusted to prohibit import at the end of 2018"
| serial number |
Customs commodity number |
waste name |
| 12 |
7204490010 |
Scrap Automobile Compression |
| 13 |
7204490020 |
Scrap hardware and electrical appliances mainly recycled steel |
| 14 |
7404000010 |
Scrap electric motors (including waste electric motors, wires, cables, hardware and electrical appliances) mainly for recycling copper |
| 15 |
7602000010 |
Waste wires, etc., mainly recycled aluminum (including waste wires, cables, hardware and electrical appliances) |
| 16 |
8908000000 |
Vessels and other floating structures intended for demolition |
4. Import restrictions on scrap iron and steel
Basis: Announcement on Adjusting the Catalog of Imported Waste Management.
Execution time: From July 1, 2019.
Specific catalog: "Catalogue of Restricted Imported Solid Wastes that Can Be Used as Raw Materials".
| serial number |
Customs commodity number |
waste name |
certificate name |
Applicable environmental protection control standards |
| 7 |
7204100000 |
cast iron scrap |
scrap steel |
GB 16487.6 |
| 8 |
7204290000 |
Other alloy steel scrap |
scrap steel |
GB 16487.6 |
| 9 |
7204300000 |
Tinned steel scrap |
scrap steel |
GB 16487.6 |
| 10 |
7204410000 |
Iron and steel scrap from machining |
scrap steel |
GB 16487.6 |
| 11 |
7204490090 |
Unspecified iron and steel scrap |
scrap steel |
GB 16487.6 |
| 12 |
7204500000 |
Scrap steel ingots for remelting |
scrap steel |
GB 16487.6 |
5. Total ban on import
Basis: Announcement on Matters Related to the Prohibition of Importing Solid Waste.
Implementation time: effective from January 1.
Specific content: 1. It is prohibited to import solid waste by any means. 2. The Ministry of Ecology and Environment has stopped accepting and approving applications for import licenses for solid waste that can be used as raw materials for restricted imports; for solid waste import licenses that have been issued in 2020 for restricted imports that can be used as raw materials, they should be specified in the certificate. It can be used within the validity period of 2020, and it will automatically expire after the expiration date.
(2) Free import of recycled iron and steel raw materials
Those that meet the standards of "Recycled Iron and Steel Raw Materials" (GB/T 39733-2020) can be imported freely.
1. Scope of application of recycled iron and steel raw materials
It is suitable for recycled iron and steel raw materials used as ferritic charge raw materials in ironmaking, steelmaking, casting and ferroalloy smelting. Divided into 7 types. Various steel raw materials have clear grades, physical specifications, raw material sources and typical examples, and main processing methods.
3. Recycled materials need to be processed before they can be used as recycled steel raw materials
Different types of recycled materials can meet the standards of recycled steel materials after being processed by different processing methods. Common processing methods include sorting, dismantling, cutting, crushing, and packing.
4. Recycled iron and steel raw materials should meet the following testing requirements
(1) Recycled steel should pass radiation testing;
(2) No explosive items are allowed;
(3) Do not mix with hazardous waste;
(4) The appearance is kept clean, without obvious waste paper, waste plastic, waste fiber and other inclusions, and the required proportion of inclusions is between 0.3% and 1.0%.
5. Transportation and acceptance standards for recycled iron and steel raw materials
During transportation, each carriage is generally only allowed to load recycled steel raw materials of the same type and brand. More than two can be loaded in the make-up deficit compartment, but they should be separated as far as possible and clearly marked.
A certificate of quality or a delivery note is attached to the delivery.
3. Summary of related documents
(1) Announcement of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment
1. [Ministry of Ecology and Environment Announcement No. 80 of 2014]
The document issued an announcement on the issuance of the "Imported Waste Management Catalog" (2015). Scrap iron and steel are solid wastes that can be used as raw materials for automatic licensing imports; scrapped automobiles and scrap ships are solid wastes that can be used as raw materials for restricted imports . Effective from January 1, 2015.
2. [Ministry of Ecology and Environment Announcement No. 39 of 2017]
The "Imported Waste Management Catalog" (2017) was released in the document. Scrap iron and steel are non-restricted solid wastes that can be used as raw materials ; scrap automobiles and scrap ships are solid wastes that can be used as raw materials that are restricted from imports . Effective from December 31, 2017.
3. [Ministry of Ecology and Environment Announcement No. 6 of 2018]
The document issued the announcement on the adjustment of the import waste management catalog, and the scrapped automobiles and scrap ships were transferred from the restricted import solid waste that can be used as raw materials to the prohibited import solid waste , which will be implemented from December 31, 2018.
4. [Ministry of Ecology and Environment Announcement No. 68 of 2018]
The document issued an announcement on the adjustment of the "Imported Waste Management Catalogue". Scrap iron and steel will be transferred from non-restricted import solid waste that can be used as raw material to restricted import solid waste that can be used as raw material . It will be implemented from July 1, 2019 .
5. [Ministry of Ecology and Environment Announcement No. 53 of 2020]
The document issued the "Announcement on Matters Concerning the Comprehensive Prohibition of Importing Solid Waste", prohibiting the import of solid waste in any way . The dumping, stacking and disposal of solid waste outside my country is prohibited. Effective from January 1, 2021.
6. [Ministry of Ecology and Environment Announcement No. 78 of 2020]
The document issued the "Announcement on Regulating the Import Management of Recycled Iron and Steel Raw Materials". Recycled iron and steel raw materials that meet the standards of "Recycled Iron and Steel Raw Materials" (GB/T 39733-2020) are not solid waste and can be imported freely. Effective from January 1, 2021.
(2) Normative documents
1. "Law of the People's Republic of China on the Prevention and Control of Environmental Pollution by Solid Waste"
Article 23: The dumping, stacking and disposal of solid waste outside the territory of the People's Republic of China is prohibited.
Article 24: The country will gradually realize zero import of solid waste, and the competent department of ecology and environment of the State Council will organize and implement it in conjunction with the competent departments of commerce, development and reform, and customs of the State Council.
Article 115: Whoever, in violation of the provisions of this law, imports solid waste from outside the territory of the People's Republic of China into the territory, shall be ordered by the Customs to return the solid waste, and shall be fined not less than 500,000 yuan but not more than 5 million yuan.
The carrier shall be jointly and severally liable with the importer for the return and disposal of the solid waste specified in the preceding paragraph.
2. "Administrative Measures for the Import of Solid Waste" (repealed)
(Decision No. 21 of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment on the Abolition of Regulations and Regulatory Documents Related to the Import of Solid Waste)
Article 11: To import solid waste listed in the list of restricted imports or automatic licensed imports, a relevant license for the import of solid waste must be obtained.
Article 20: The import of solid waste included in the list of restricted imports shall be examined and approved by the competent department of environmental protection administration under the State Council in conjunction with the competent department of foreign trade under the State Council. The import of solid waste included in the automatic licensing import catalog shall go through automatic licensing procedures in accordance with the law.
Article 25: The carrier of imported solid waste shall require the consignor to provide the following certification materials when accepting the transportation business:
(1) Relevant licenses for the import of solid waste;
(2) The registration certificate of domestic consignees of imported solid waste that can be used as raw materials;
(3) The registration certificate of foreign suppliers of imported solid waste that can be used as raw materials;
(4) Pre-shipment inspection certificate for imported solid waste that can be used as raw materials.
Article 27: Unless otherwise specified, for solid waste that can be used as raw materials for restricted imports or automatic licensed imports, the relevant license for the import of solid waste and the "Customs Clearance Form for Entry Goods" issued by the entry-exit inspection and quarantine agency shall be presented. " and other relevant documents to the customs for import inspection and release procedures.
3. Relevant solid waste import management catalog
"Imported Solid Waste Management Catalog"
"Catalogue of Solid Waste Prohibited from Import"
"Catalogue of Restricted Imported Solid Wastes that Can Be Used as Raw Materials"
"Catalogue of Non-restricted Import Solid Wastes That Can Be Used as Raw Materials"
4. Decision on abolishing relevant regulations and normative documents on the import of solid waste
Regulations decided to be repealed: Measures for the Administration of Solid Waste Imports (Order No. 12 of the former Ministry of Environmental Protection, Ministry of Commerce, Development and Reform Commission, General Administration of Customs, and former General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine).
(3) Refer to national standards
1.（GB 16487.6—2017）
"Environmental Protection Control Standards for Imported Solid Wastes That Can Be Used as Raw Materials—Scrap Iron and Steel" (expired)
2.（GB 16487.13—2017）
"Environmental Protection Control Standards for Imported Solid Wastes That Can Be Used as Raw Materials - Compressed Parts of Scrap Automobiles" (Expired)
3.（GB 16487.11—2017）
"Environmental Protection Control Standards for Imported Solid Waste as Raw Materials—Ships and Other Floating Structures for Disassembly" (expired)
4.（GB/T 39733—2020）
"Recycled Iron and Steel Raw Materials"