Steel imports: proof of the ‘melt and pour’ country is now required

It identifies the country where the steel or iron was first produced in a liquid state and then cast into its first solid form. That may differ from the country where the product was later rolled, cut, processed or sold. It is not automatically the same as the non-preferential origin declared to customs or the country of dispatch.

If a Chinese company buys steel from elsewhere and processes it, it is advisable to trace the chain back to the steel mill rather than rely only on a statement from the intermediary.

You need to check whether the product and its code fall within the scope of Regulation (EU) 2026/1384. Not every article that contains steel is covered for that reason alone.

The documentary requirement is a traceability obligation within this framework. It does not replace checks on the applicable quota or duty, origin, trade measures or CBAM requirements where relevant. Meeting the ‘melt and pour’ requirement does not by itself show that an operation is exempt from other controls.

The main reference is the Mill Test Certificate issued by the steel mill. It must make it possible to identify the ‘melt and pour’ country and the heat number of the imported steel.

Until 30 September 2027, if the certificate is missing or does not contain all of that information, customs authorities may consider other documents as independent or supporting evidence. The Commission mentions, among others, invoices, delivery notes, quality certificates, production documents, supplier declarations and clauses in executed orders or contracts. It is not enough for a document to exist: it must provide the required data and be linked to the goods.

From 1 October 2027, those alternative documents may only supplement the Mill Test Certificate, not replace it. Their acceptance and sufficiency are assessed at clearance; neither the supplier nor a buying agent can guarantee them.

If goods from several factories are consolidated, keep the documentary link for each batch: putting packages in the same shipment does not merge their origin or heats.

‘Melt and pour’ and CBAM answer different questions. The first identifies where the steel was obtained; CBAM requires an analysis of code, origin, mass and emissions, among other data, as explained in our CBAM imports guide. A Mill Test Certificate does not replace emissions data or accredited verification.

At EC HolaHome we can coordinate with suppliers to request and organise documents and to communicate with the professionals involved in the operation, as part of our import management. If you buy sections, reinforcement or other metal products for construction, see also the building materials guide.