Regulatory information for Indian metal scrap imports
PSIC Exemption for Metallic Scrap Originating in the UK
A summary of the conditional exemption described in DGFT Public Notice No. 35/2026-27 dated 21 October 2026 for eligible metallic waste and scrap imported from designated safe countries and regions, including the United Kingdom.
Important: this is a conditional exemption, not a blanket exemption
The general PSIC requirement for metallic waste and scrap remains. The exemption applies only where the conditions in the amended provision are satisfied. Importers should confirm the current requirements for their specific material, route, port and customs clearance before shipment.
What the DGFT public notice says
Public Notice No. 35/2026-27, dated 21 October 2026, amends paragraph 2.51(d)(v)(iv) of the Handbook of Procedures, 2023. It provides that both shredded and unshredded metallic waste and scrap imported from designated safe countries or regions — the USA, UK, Canada, New Zealand, Australia and the European Union — may be exempt from requiring a PSIC, subject to the specified conditions.
Conditions that must be met
1. Supplier or scrap-yard certificate
The consignment must be accompanied by a certificate from the supplier or scrap-yard authority certifying that it does not contain radioactive materials or explosives.
2. Entry through a designated sea port
The consignment must enter through one of the designated sea ports listed in the notice. Mandatory radiation and explosive checks through portal monitors and container scanners apply at these ports.
3. Trans-shipment is not eligible
Trans-shipments through the designated safe countries or regions are not allowed to use this PSIC exemption. A consignment merely routed through the UK or another listed safe country should not be assumed to qualify.
The eleven designated sea ports
- Chennai
- Tuticorin
- Kandla
- JNPT
- Mumbai
- Krishnapatnam
- Mundra
- Kattupalli
- Hazira
- Kamarajar
- Adani Gangavaram.
Customs clearance at an Inland Container Depot (ICD)
The notice states that the exemption can also apply to Customs clearance for home consumption at an Inland Container Depot, provided all the specified conditions have been satisfied at the designated port of entry and, where clearance takes place at an ICD, proof of that compliance is provided at the ICD.
What this means for UK metal scrap exporters and Indian importers
The UK is one of the designated safe countries or regions named in the notice. However, UK dispatch alone does not establish that a consignment qualifies. The importer and exporter should check the material, country-of-origin and routing evidence, supplier certificate, designated port, mandatory screening and any ICD documentation before relying on the exemption.
Regis Inspection’s role
Regis Inspection Ltd can provide agreed commercial inspection observations, visual condition and grade records, quantity evidence, photographs and loading supervision where arranged. Regis is not a DGFT-recognised Pre-Shipment Inspection Agency and does not issue, certify or guarantee a PSIC. A Regis commercial inspection report is not a PSIC and is not a substitute for any statutory certificate or Customs requirement.
Official notice and further confirmation
The amendment is contained in DGFT Public Notice No. 35/2026-27 dated 21 October 2026, amending paragraph 2.51(d)(v)(iv) of the Handbook of Procedures, 2023. Read the published Gazette notice and obtain shipment-specific confirmation from DGFT, Indian Customs or a qualified customs broker before relying on the exemption.
View Gazette of India publication for Public Notice No. 35/2026-27