Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1963, adopted on 28 August 2026, establishes the evidence that importers must provide to demonstrate the country of “melt and pour” for steel products imported into the European Union. The Regulation supports the implementation of the EU’s new steel trade framework under Regulation (EU) 2026/1384, which was introduced to address the effects of global steel overcapacity.

From 1 October 2026, if the Mill Test Certificate provided does not entail information either on the country of ‘melt and pour’ or the heat number, the following evidence may be considered by customs authorities as complementary to the Mill Test Certificate provided that it entails the missing information either on the country of ‘melt and pour’ or the heat number:

(a) invoices,

(b) delivery notes;

(c) quality certificates and clauses in implemented purchase orders or contracts;

(d) long-term declarations from suppliers;

(e) cost accounting and production documents;

(f) customs documents from the exporting country;

(g) commercial correspondence; or

(h) production descriptions.

To facilitate compliance, a transitional period until 30 September 2027 allows importers to use alternative documents, such as invoices, supplier declarations, quality certificates, customs documents, and production records, either as supplementary or standalone evidence where an MTC is unavailable.

Customs authorities will verify supporting documentation and may conduct additional checks when evidence other than a complete MTC is provided. Failure to declare the country of melt and pour with appropriate supporting evidence may result in the rejection of the import.