New Delhi, October 15
Alarmed over the discovery of live ammunition in metal scraps, the government today tightened the norms and made pre-shipment inspection certificate for import of scrap mandatory.

Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath held a meeting here today to discuss and review the import policy for scrap and metallic waste.

The procedure for import of metallic waste and scrap had earlier been tightened with the imposition of port restrictions and a system of cent per cent inspection by Customs authorities.

Indicating a further tightening of norms, Mr Kamal Nath announced that the pre-shipment inspection of cargo through approved certifying agencies would be made mandatory for all future consignments of unshredded scrap.

Imports of unshredded scrap would be allowed only through designated ports, to be notified by the DGFT shortly. Twenty-three certifying agencies are already recognised for the purpose of pre-shipment inspection, including several which are based abroad.

Shipping companies would be advised to load cargo in the vessel only with pre-shipment inspection certificates, wherever necessary, Mr Nath said.

The minister further said the Home Ministry would shortly be issuing an advisory specifying a period within which voluntary disclosure of material of combustible nature in the possession of importing units, if any, would have to be made.

This would prevent such material from being abandoned at various places, causing risk to human life and property.