Trade Body Expressed Concerns over the Proposal to Ban Scrap Metal Export

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The Recycling Association of South Africa raised objection to the proposed ban by the government on scrap metal exports.

According to the Association, the ban will do little to deter infrastructure theft. On the other hand, it will only help line the pockets of big business. The true aim of the proposal is not to reduce theft of infrastructure, said the association in its submission to the Department of Trade, Industry & Competition. Furthermore, it considers the ban proposal as just another cloaked protectionist tool that will create anticompetitive structures within the metal manufacturing and recycling industry.

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Nancy Strachan, CEO said that the proposal targets legitimate, registered dealers and recyclers that are already compliant with existing legislative requirements. The creation of more laws to police a compliant industry will do little to address the criminality of infrastructure theft. The existing restrictions aimed at curbing thefts are not effectively enforced. The ban proposal is driven by research reports that factored in the inputs of a selected members of the entire industry and one specific scrap metal dealer, she added.

Also, Strachan demanded extension of deadline of the public consultation period.