India Clarifies Pre-Shipment Inspection Rules for Metallic Scrap

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) in India issued Public Notice No. 35/2026-27 on October 21, 2026, introducing updates to the Handbook of Procedures for 2023. This regulatory adjustment details the exact scope and conditions required for exemptions from the Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate (PSIC) for metallic waste and scrap imports.

Under the updated framework, the general mandate requiring a PSIC from the country of origin remains in effect. However, both shredded and unshredded metallic waste and scrap arriving from designated safe regions qualify for exemptions provided they meet specific safety safeguards. The approved jurisdictions include the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and the European Union.

To qualify for the exemption, shipments must include official documentation from the supplier or the scrap yard authority certifying that the cargo contains no explosive devices or radioactive materials. Furthermore, trans-shipments routed through these designated safe nations are strictly ineligible for the exemption.

The updated regulations stipulate that eligible consignments must enter through one of eleven approved sea ports. These authorized locations comprise Chennai, Tuticorin, Kandla, JNPT, Mumbai, Krishnapatnam, Mundra, Kattupalli, Hazira, Kamarajar, and Adani Gangavaram. Upon arrival, these ports must conduct mandatory radiation and explosive screenings utilizing container scanners and portal monitors.

In addition to port-of-entry processing, the amendment explicitly allows Customs clearance for home consumption to take place either at the designated entry sea port or at an Inland Container Depot (ICD). For clearance at an ICD, all mandatory safety conditions must be completely satisfied at the initial port of entry, and documented proof of compliance must be presented at the inland facility.

The modifications aim to streamline the regulatory process for industrial raw material imports while maintaining stringent border security and environmental protections against hazardous materials.