Egypt's House of Representatives Industry Committee, led by Engineer Ahmed Bahaa Shalaby, is set to hold an expanded meeting on Monday, attended by representatives from the Ministries of Industry, Local Development, Investment, and Foreign Affairs, as well as the Egyptian Federation of Industries. The meeting aims to review the government's actions regarding a European Union draft regulation on a list of countries allowed to export non-hazardous waste to the EU.
The draft EU regulation has approved the inclusion of six types of waste from Egypt, but has excluded scrap metal, including ferrous and non-ferrous metal waste. If adopted in its current form, this would mean a ban on exporting these materials from EU countries to Egypt starting from May 21, 2027. The deadline for submitting comments on the draft is October 16, 2026, with the next review opportunity not available for nearly two years.
Engineer Ahmed Bahaa Shalaby emphasized that scrap metal is a crucial input for various industries, including steel, cables, and metal manufacturing. He noted that the EU's evaluation for excluding Egypt was based on a lack of technical data submitted, rather than the actual capacity of Egyptian facilities. Shalaby stressed that the committee expects the government to have completed the required data and submitted official comments within the given timeframe.
The Industry Committee has expressed concerns over the potential impact of the EU's decision on Egypt's industrial sector. The committee's role is to ensure that the government's actions protect the continuity of industrial inputs and safeguard national industry interests. The meeting is expected to discuss possible courses of action and strategies to mitigate any adverse effects.
According to Shalaby, the committee will closely monitor the situation and engage with the government to ensure that Egypt's interests are represented. The Industry Committee's oversight role is critical in this matter, as it seeks to prevent disruptions to Egypt's industrial production and maintain a stable supply of essential inputs.
The Egyptian government has been urged to provide the necessary technical data to support the country's inclusion in the EU's list of approved countries for scrap metal exports. The Industry Committee is working to ensure that the government takes proactive steps to address the issue and avoid potential losses to Egypt's industrial sector.
The outcome of the meeting and the government's subsequent actions will be crucial in determining the future of Egypt's scrap metal exports to the EU. The Industry Committee's efforts aim to protect Egypt's industrial interests and maintain a stable trade relationship with the EU.
Key points
- Egypt's Industry Committee to review government measures on EU scrap metal export ban
- EU draft regulation excludes scrap metal exports to Egypt, effective May 2027
- Committee seeks government action to protect Egypt's industrial interests
