Delphine Estibeiro –
On 4th November, the European Parliament’s Committee on Environment, Climate and Food Safety (ENVI) has voted against the inclusion of two Indian ship recycling facilities in the European Union’s 16th List of approved ship recycling yards, escalating debate over the role of beaching yards within the EU Ship Recycling Regulation.
The committee’s objection targets Shree Ram and YSI Recyclers, both located in Alang-Sosiya, India, which had been preliminarily approved by the European Commission to recycle EU-flagged vessels. Members of the European Parliament argued that facilities employing the beaching method for ship dismantling do not meet the environmental and worker-protection standards required under EU regulations.
According to the ENVI Committee, allowing beaching yards onto the European List would conflict with both the intent and provisions of the EU Ship Recycling Regulation. The committee noted that primary cutting operations at such facilities take place in the intertidal zone, making it difficult to adequately control and contain pollution. Environmental monitoring reports cited by the committee indicate elevated levels of hazardous substances, including copper, chromium, cadmium and mercury, in the vicinity of beaching operations.
The objection also raises concerns regarding downstream waste management practices in Alang-Sosiya. Lawmakers argued that the handling of recycled materials has not been demonstrated to meet standards broadly equivalent to those applied within the European Union. They further referenced the European Commission’s draft regulation of September 2026, which declined to authorise exports of ferrous and non-ferrous metal waste to India due to concerns surrounding steel recycling practices.
Opponents of the proposal also disputed claims that additional recycling capacity is required. According to the objection, facilities already included on the EU-approved list have a combined capacity exceeding two million light displacement tonnes (LDT), which they contend is sufficient to handle the volume of EU-flagged and EU-owned vessels sent for recycling in recent years.
Commenting on the decision, Ingvild Jenssen, Executive Director and Founder of the NGO Shipbreaking Platform, said the vote sends a strong political signal to the European Commission. The organisation argues that approval of beaching yards would undermine responsible recyclers that have invested in meeting higher environmental, health, safety and labour standards, while conflicting with the EU’s circular economy and strategic autonomy objectives.
The objection has received backing from a coalition of stakeholders, including representatives from the steel and recycling industries, trade unions and environmental organisations. While the ENVI Committee has approved the objection, it will still require a vote in the European Parliament plenary session later this month. The outcome will not be legally binding on the European Commission, with EU Member States expected to make the final determination on the proposal.
Marex Media