Fiji announces one-year extension to ban on non-ferrous scrap metal trade

SPOKANE (Scrap Monster): The island country of Fiji has decided to extend the ban on non ferrous scrap metal trade by another year. The decision was announced after a series of consultations between Faiyaz Koya, Minister for Industry and Trade, enforcement working group and the Public Infrastructure Metal (PIM) companies. As per the new announcement, the non-ferrous scrap metal trade will be suspended with effect from Jan 1^st, 2015 to December 31^st, 2015.

Earlier, the PIM firms had called for one-year extension of the ban that had come to an end on December 31^st, 2014. According to them, the incidents of scrap metal theft have declined sharply ever since the trade ban was imposed.

However, government ministries, PIM firms and private sector enterprises are eligible to obtain special approval to sell non-ferrous scrap metal, if needed. An application to this effect must be forwarded to the licensing authority, whose is entitled to grant special approval on case-by-case basis. In addition, if scrap metal dealerships are found operating without license or violating other provisions of the ban, they will be fined $100,000 and/or imprisoned for up to five years. They may also face stringent actions such as immediate revocation of their license.

According to state-owned utility companies such as Fiji Electricity Authority, Telecom Fiji Limited and Water Authority of Fiji, the intensified inspections at yards and imposition of trade ban have led to drastic cut in thefts of public infrastructure metal.

The general public is encouraged to report any suspicious or illegal non ferrous scrap trade by individual or dealers.