EU Steel Regulation: Commission Consultation on 'Melt and Pour' Traceability — Closes 2 July
The EU Steel Regulation enters into force on 1 July 2026, introducing tighter quotas, a 50% out-of-quota duty and a 'melt and pour' traceability regime. The European Commission has opened a consultation on melt and pour documentation, running until 2 July — Irish stakeholders are encouraged to respond.
The EU's new Steel Regulation, which addresses the negative trade-related effects of global steel overcapacity on the EU market, enters into force on 1 July 2026. The Regulation:
- sets a free-of-duty quota of 18.3 million tonnes;
- applies a 50% duty on out-of-quota imports; and
- introduces a 'melt and pour' traceability regime.
The measure applies to all origins except EEA countries, which nevertheless remain subject to the melt and pour requirements.
The traceability regime is supplemented by an Implementing Act on 'melt and pour' that enters into force on 1 October 2026. This Act will set out the documentary evidence that importers of steel products into the EU must provide to demonstrate where their steel was originally melted and poured.
Ahead of this, on 4 June 2026 the European Commission launched a targeted consultation seeking stakeholder feedback on the appropriate documentation for verifying the country of melt and pour. The consultation runs from 4 June to 2 July 2026 and invites input from steel producers, steel users, traders, importers, industry associations, member state governments, customs authorities and other stakeholders.
Irish steel stakeholders are strongly encouraged to engage before the 2 July deadline. The consultation is available via the European Commission's Trade and Economic Security portal.