BIR expresses concern over shipment regulations.

Bureau of International Recycling (BIR) members have expressed deep concern regarding what it terms in a press release as "the threatening negative impact of the application of the EU Shipments Regulation on the business of international recyclers."

The revised regulation, which will be applied as of July 12, 2007, affects trade in recyclables within the EU, exports from the EU and imports into the EU.

Delegates to the BIR's World Recycling Convention in Athens said they were concerned about supply disruptions to metal works, paper mills and other scrap users around the world.

Another serious danger is the loss of commercial confidentiality, according to the BIR. The EU regulation stipulates the seller must use a form, know as "Annex VII," which lists the company's suppliers. That same form must be signed by the customer upon receipt of the goods. This in effect forces the seller to expose its supplier to its customer. In effect, the Annex VII formula is a business killer, according to the BIR.

These were issues raised by other federations representing the recycling sector when the legislation was in development in the EU Parliament. The council and commission did not resolve these concerns during the approval process.