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The Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) says failures to comply with laws and regulations are responsible for the delays scrap metal dealers have been complaining about.
In a statement addressing concerns raised by the Scrap Iron Dealers Association (TTSIDA) at a media conference on Monday, the MTI said its Trade Licence Unit (TLU) can process an application for an export licence for scrap metal in as little as one day. However, it noted that delays often arise due to dealers' non-compliance, including the submission of incomplete or inaccurate documentation.
TTSIDA has warned that the current export system could force members to shut down. Its president, Allan Ferguson, explained that after submitting documents to the MTI, dealers typically wait three to seven weeks for a response or export licences to be granted. Vice President Erros Seejattan added that the process involves approximately two weeks to accumulate the required amount of materials, a minimum of three weeks to obtain a licence, and another two weeks or more to secure an inspection before loading can occur.
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