Steel imports into the EU: “melt and pour” evidence requirements from October 1
Starting October 1, 2026, new documentation requirements concerning the country of melt and pour of steel imported into the European Union will apply.
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1963, published on August 31, 2026, sets out the evidence that importers will be required to provide to substantiate this information.
The new provisions complement the framework introduced by Regulation (EU) 2026/1384 and support the objective of strengthening the traceability of steel products imported into the EU and improving visibility into the related supply chain.
For operators, the new requirement is primarily documentation-driven: they will need to substantiate the country of melt and pour through the evidence provided for under the Regulation and provide the corresponding heat number.
Which imports are covered?
The requirements apply to imports into the EU of products falling within the categories listed in Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2026/1384.
The primary document: the Mill Test Certificate
At the time of importation, the importer must provide a Mill Test Certificate (MTC) containing two pieces of information:
- the country of melt and pour;
- the heat number of the imported steel.
The Regulation acknowledges that the MTC is neither a harmonized document nor specifically designed to substantiate the country of melt and pour. Nevertheless, the Commission considers it the most widely recognized primary means of evidencing the country and therefore requires importers to provide it where available.
MTC and alternative documentation: what does the Regulation provide?
From a documentation perspective, three scenarios may arise:
1. The MTC contains both required pieces of information
If the Mill Test Certificate states both the country of melt and pour and the heat number, it constitutes the primary document provided for under the Regulation.
2. The MTC is available but one of the required pieces of information is missing
If the certificate does not contain information on either the country of melt and pour or the heat number, customs authorities may consider additional supporting documentation, provided that it contains the missing information.
The following documents may be used:
- invoices;
- delivery notes;
- quality certificates and clauses in purchase orders or executed contracts;
- long-term supplier declarations;
- cost accounting and production records;
- customs documents from the exporting country;
- commercial correspondence;
- product descriptions.
3. The MTC cannot be provided
A transitional regime applies in this situation.
From October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2027, where a Mill Test Certificate cannot be provided, customs authorities may also consider the same documents as standalone evidence.
In this case, however, they must contain both required pieces of information: the country of melt and pour and the heat number.
Transitional regime through September 30, 2027
The transitional period is intended to allow economic operators to progressively adapt their practices for providing information on the country of melt and pour.
Starting October 1, 2027, based on the provisions currently in place, the other documents may continue to be used to supplement an incomplete MTC, but the transitional provision allowing them to be used as standalone evidence in the absence of the certificate will no longer apply.
The Commission notes, however, that the list of acceptable evidence will be kept under review and may be adjusted in the future.
Customs checks: potential impact on timing
The use of alternative documentation may also affect the timing of the import process.
Where the country of melt and pour is substantiated through supporting documentation or, during the transitional period, through alternative evidence to the MTC, customs authorities will carry out documentary checks on the information and supporting evidence provided.
The Commission also notes that where an importer is unable to provide a Mill Test Certificate and relies on other admissible forms of evidence, verification of their accuracy may delay access to the relevant tariff-rate quota until those checks have been completed.
The country of melt and pour must be declared using the appropriate TARIC document codes.
Consequences of failure to declare
The country of melt and pour must be declared and supported by adequate verifiable evidence in accordance with the Regulation. Failure to do so will result in the import being rejected by customs authorities.
