2016 Iron and Steel Licensing Requirements

The European Commission has introduced a “Prior Surveillance” import licensing regime to monitor imports of certain iron and steel products into the European Union. Commission implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/670 was published on 29th April 2016.

1. You will need an import licence to import any steel products of specified commodity codes (including fasteners) arriving for Customs clearance into Ireland or the EU on or after 31st May 2016.
2. You do not need a prior surveillance import licence if:
   a. your products have a net weight of less than 2500 kilograms (2.5 metric tonnes), or
   b. your products were made in the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway, or
   c. your products are imported into Ireland or the EU before 31st May 2016, or
   d. your products are not entered into free circulation but into a Customs relief scheme (e.g. customs warehousing, temporary import or Inward Processing Relief - If the products are subsequently entered into free circulation a licence is required). 

Applying for a steel prior surveillance import licence 

1. There is no charge for the issuing of licences. 
2. You will need to provide: 
   a. Product description / trade name, 
   b. TARIC code,
   c. product volume in kilos,
   d. product value in euros on a CIF (Cost plus Insurance plus Freight to the EU border) basis,
   e. where the products were made,
   f. where the products were shipped from.
3. You will also need to provide a copy of your pro-forma invoice or your sales/purchase contract.

Prior surveillance licence validity 

1. An application for an import licence can be made in any Member State and shall be valid throughout the Union.
2. Licences will have a four month validity which may be renewed for a further four months if not fully used. Your licence remains valid, and does not require amendment, if the unit price and/or net weight of the import is within the 5% tolerance.