The Bureau of International Recycling (BIR) takes note of the Council of the European Union’s formal adoption, on 8 June 2026, of a new Regulation establishing a framework for the EU steel market in the context of global steel overcapacity, as outlined in the Steel and Metals Action Plan of 2025.
The EU Steel Regulation will apply from 1 July 2026, following the expiry of the current EU steel safeguard measure on 30 June 2026.
As the global voice of the recycling industry, BIR underlines that trade measures affecting steel markets may also have implications for secondary raw materials markets. Recycled steel is a globally traded commodity and essential input for circular steel production, particularly in electric arc furnace (EAF)-based steel production. Any significant change to steel import conditions, quota access or origin verification requirements may therefore disrupt global trade flows and commercial practices across the wider steel recycling value chain.
BIR notes that the Regulation introduces a revised tariff-rate quota (TRQ) system, setting total annual free-of-duty quota volumes at 18.3 million tonnes, a reduction of approximately 47% compared with 2024 safeguard quota levels. Imports exceeding the applicable quota will be subject to a 50% out-of-quota duty, compared with 25% under the previous safeguard regime.
The Regulation also incorporates a “melt and pour” origin requirement, intended to strengthen transparency and support effective enforcement by identifying the country where steel was first melted and poured. BIR also takes note that the European Commission is expected to adopt, by 31 August 2026, an implementing act specifying the evidence that importers will be required to provide in order to demonstrate compliance with the “melt and pour” requirement.
In this context, BIR welcomes the European Commission’s launched consultation, open from 4 June to 2 July 2026, inviting steel producers, steel users, traders, importers, industry associations and other stakeholders to identify practical and reliable documentation for verifying the country of melt and pour of steel imported into the EU.
BIR encourages its members and operators active in ferrous scrap collection, trade, processing and recycled steel production to participate in the consultation before the deadline of 2 July 2026. This process provides an important opportunity for the global recycling industry to contribute technical and commercial expertise to the development of an evidentiary framework that is practical, proportionate, verifiable and aligned with established recycling and scrap trade practices.
Together with Recycling Europe and its European members, BIR remains committed to constructive engagement with the European institutions on all regulatory matters relating to trade and the circular economy affecting the global recycling industry and stands ready to contribute to the implementation process.
BIR has consistently supported open, fair, and effectively regulated global markets for recycled materials, and reaffirms that such markets remain essential to achieving both environmental and industrial objectives. Trade policy frameworks should be designed to reinforce, rather than undermine, the role of the recycling industry in fostering resource resilience and circular value chains.
Source: BIR
