Pakistan MOC announces fresh import policy for PVC scrap

ISLAMABAD (Scrap Monster): Pakistan’s Ministry of Commerce (MOC) has announced major amendments to import policy of PVC scrap. The new regulations are expected to contain the imports of hazardous plastic scrap materials into the country. The government action is intended to put break on shipments of plastic scrap, mainly from Middle East and European countries.

In the latest amendment, the Ministry of Commerce states that PVC scrap import by industrial consumers will have to obtain environmental clearance by plastic scrap recycling facilities approved by the respective federal or provincial Environmental Protection Agencies (EPAs). The approval will be subject to set annual recycling capacities of respective facilities.

Customs authorities and environmental inspection agencies will ensure that the new rules are strictly followed and that the importers of plastic scrap possess adequate recycling infrastructure to handle the waste, the Ministry stated. The customs authorities must conduct detailed check of the inbound consignments and ensure that the goods are free of hazardous materials. The concerned importers could also be asked to get the samples certified by environmental agencies.

Of late, Pakistan had become the favorite dumping place of all kinds of plastic scrap from the Middle East countries. The imported material consists of sewerage and drainage pipes, medical and clinical waste etc, which contains materials that can cause serious hazards to human lives. The hazardous materials contained in these wastes could cause infections and diseases in human body.

It must be noted that Pakistan imported 26,600 mt of plastic scrap in 2012. The scrap plastic imports by the country have dropped to 25,500 mt in 2013 and to 20,600 mt in 2014.