The export of metal scrap is offered by state duty. According to him, from the end of the last year, about 7000 tons of scrap metal has been exported from Armenia

The draft law on making Amendments in the Law of the Republic of Armenia "On State Duty" is discussed at the NA Standing Committee on Economic Affairs.

Before the main speaker presented the project, the Chairman of the Commission Babken Tunyan explained the necessity of adopting the law.

He mentioned that in Armenia, there have been changes in the state duty since 2012, which set a deficit of 80,000 drams for the export of metal scrap to ensure that the raw materials for local producers are supplied uninterruptedly.

"But there was such a possibility in the law that if scrap metal scrapers were able to obtain an Armenian origin certificate and would present it as Armenian products, they would have been able to break that scrap without limitation from RA," said Tunyan.

The Chairman of the Committee noted that since the end of last year, a large amount of scrap metal has begun exporting from Armenia- around 7000 tons. "Now the government wants to close that gap, that is, to export metal scrap with state duty regardless of whether this Armenian certificate is available or not," he said.

Tunyan said that there are organizations that are engaged in the export of metal scrap and they have recently protested against this decision. The MP noted that several days ago they met with the representatives of these organizations to discuss the issue.

"They say what they export is light metal garbage, quickly accumulating. they refer to the car bodies, paint banks, and say that they should be given the opportunity to export it without duty, because somehow they solve the environmental problem, "said Tunyan and noted that they discussed the issue and came to a particular solution so that non-ferrous companies or these small companies do not suffer. "There is a certain degree of risk that the SRC should evaluate," he said.

The project was presented by Economy Minister Tigran Khachatryan, who noticed that if nothing changes, the scrap will be at risk of at least 5 local locally-used workshops, as well as those with over 1,000 registered employees.

It should be noted that the draft provides state duty for goods classified in FEZs 7201, 7204, even if they are of Armenian descent (FE 7201 - cast iron, recyclable and mirror, cast iron, metal or other primary forms, FGP 7204 black metal residues and scrap metal: bullions of black metal (bullion bullions) for crushing.

The proposed changes will allow local industrial companies to use scrap metal on the spot as raw material, ensuring competitive prices for final products they produce.