EU: European Commission urged to tighten ship recycling rules, ban beaching practices

• EU groups seek stricter global ship recycling standards
• Turkiye, India yards face environmental compliance pressure

The NGO Shipbreaking Platform, EUROFER, and Recycling Europe jointly urged the European Commission to strengthen the implementation of the EU Ship Recycling Regulation by banning beaching and landing dismantling methods for EU-flagged vessels. The organisations stated that the ongoing revision of technical guidance for third-country ship recycling facilities provides a major opportunity to eliminate the “double standards” currently existing between European and overseas recycling yards.

According to the statement, recycling facilities operating outside Europe should be required to meet environmental, safety, and operational standards equivalent to those followed within the EU before being included in the European approved recycling list. The groups emphasised that only facilities ensuring proper contained dismantling methods should be authorised under EU regulations.

Key concerns raised

The organisations highlighted ongoing environmental and operational concerns in ship recycling hubs such as Turkiye and India, citing weak monitoring systems, poor waste management practices, and unsafe working conditions observed during inspections. The statement also noted that some third-country yards continue operating without environmental permits and impact assessment procedures equivalent to EU standards.

Additionally, the groups called for stricter oversight of downstream steel rerolling and processing facilities handling secondary raw materials generated from ship recycling operations. They also requested the establishment of clear timelines for the inclusion or removal of recycling yards from the EU-approved list, including temporary suspension mechanisms for non-compliant facilities.

Why it matters

Industry bodies warned that allowing dismantling practices prohibited within Europe to continue in third countries undermines the EU’s broader sustainability and circular economy objectives. The organisations further urged the European Commission to temporarily remove Turkish ship recycling facilities from the EU-approved list until necessary environmental and operational improvements are properly implemented.