The Egyptian House of Representatives' Industry Committee held a meeting on October 12, 2026, to review the government's measures regarding the European Commission's decision to ban scrap metal exports to Egypt. The meeting was attended by representatives from the Ministries of Local Development and Environment, Industry, Investment and Foreign Trade, and Foreign Affairs, as well as the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency and the General Authority for Industrial Development.
The government representatives stated that a specialized committee was formed to study the European requirements upon receiving the draft regulation. The Ministry of Local Development and Environment is coordinating the data received from the concerned authorities, reviewing it, and submitting the file. They expressed confidence in addressing all the comments in the European evaluation, noting that the file is in the final review stage before being submitted by October 16, 2026.
The Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade reviewed Ministerial Decision No. 501 of 2026, which reorganized the conditions for importing scrap metal. The decision limits imports to licensed factories that use scrap as a production input and recycling factories, and requires an annual prior permit from the Waste Management Regulatory Agency, along with inspection certificates.
According to the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade, Egypt's imports of scrap metal from EU countries reached about 1.9 million tons in 2025, accounting for around 40% of total imports. The Ministry of Industry stated that the local market size is approximately 7 million tons, with European imports representing around 28% of it.
The Egyptian Industries Federation supported this proposal, emphasizing that rejecting the file would increase local production costs and weaken the competitiveness of Egyptian products in external markets. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that diplomatic efforts are ongoing in coordination with all concerned parties.
The Industry Committee concluded its meeting by requesting the Ministry of Local Development and Environment to provide a formal copy of the file to be submitted to the European Commission by October 15, 2026. The committee also thanked the government representatives for their efforts and affirmed that it would closely follow the European Commission's final decision, expected in November.
Key stakeholders, including the Ministries of Industry and Foreign Affairs, and the Egyptian Industries Federation, are working together to address the European Commission's concerns and ensure that Egyptian industries are not adversely affected by the ban. The committee's oversight role will continue as the situation develops.
Key points
- The Egyptian government is working to address the European Commission's concerns regarding scrap metal exports.
- The ban on scrap metal exports could impact Egypt's industrial sector and economy.
- The Egyptian Industries Federation is concerned about the potential impact on local production costs and competitiveness.
