After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the European Commission officially decided to put a stop to the import of Russian steel products into the EU: starting from September 30, 2023, the import, purchase, transportation, as well as the provision of technical and financial assistance, directly or indirectly, for steel products from countries that incorporate products of Russian origin, are prohibited.
The import ban also applies to steel products exported from Russia, regardless of the country from which they are imported:
– iron, iron wire and bars;
– rolled products, pipes, and pipe accessories;
– construction materials and parts of constructions;
– tanks or containers;
– anchors, chains, nails, screws, and bolts;
– stoves and radiators;
– items for household or hygiene use made of cast iron, iron, or steel;
– any iron or steel work.
Starting from September 30, 2023, anyone importing products classified under commodity codes from 7206 to 7229 and from 7301 to 7326 must declare whether they contain steel material of Russian origin. For products processed in a third country that incorporate Russian steel material, the ban will come into effect on April 1, 2024, or October 1, 2024, depending on the commodity codes.
To ensure compliance with these rules, importers – in collaboration with producers – must be able to demonstrate the origin of the steel material used in production through the MTC (Mill Test Certificate). This document must contain specific information for both semi-finished and finished products: the name of the manufacturing plant, the country associated with the heat number (casting serial number), and the commodity code.
In addition to the MTC, other valid proof documents may include invoices, delivery notes, quality certificates, long-term supplier declarations, calculation and production documents, customs documents from the country of origin, commercial correspondence, production descriptions, as well as manufacturer declarations or exclusion clauses in sales contracts proving that the steel material does not originate from Russia.
It remains to be seen how this measure will actually impact the European steel industry and international trade dynamics.
For more detailed information on the new regulation, we invite you to refer to an authorized external source or consult relevant official documents.
