Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013: Review

The Home Office is seeking views and evidence on whether the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 has met its objectives and whether it would be appropriate to retain or repeal the Act or any of its provisions in order to achieve those objectives in the future.

The Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 was introduced to provide a robust, modern, and comprehensive regulatory regime for the metal recycling sector in order to tackle the trade in stolen metal.

• Question 1: In your view, has the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 been successful in meeting the objective set out above? What evidence do you have to support your view?

• Question 2: Do you consider that it is appropriate to retain or repeal the Act or any of its provisions at this time? Please supply any evidence to support your view.

The Act introduced a licensing regime that requires scrap metal dealers to hold and display a scrap metal licence issued by a local authority. This can be either a site licence or a collector’s licence. The Act also requires the Environment Agency in England and Natural Resources Wales to maintain national registers of scrap metal licences.

• Question 3: To what extent do you consider that the requirements relating to licences and the national registers have helped to achieve the Act’s objective?

The Act introduced requirements on scrap metal dealers to verify the identity of those from whom they receive scrap metal; it makes it an offence for any scrap metal dealer to pay for scrap metal by cash; and requires dealers to maintain appropriate records of all transactions.

• Question 4: In your view, to what extent have the above requirements helped to achieve the Act’s objective?

You are welcome to submit any other views relating to the purpose of this review.

Send responses to SMDAreview@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

Deadline 30th January.