Armenia to extend export ban on used catalytic converter waste for another 6 months

Armenia will extend its ban on exports of ceramic waste from used car exhaust catalytic converters for another 6 months, from January 7 to July 7, 2027 inclusive. The government draft decision prepared by the Ministry of Economy is open for public comment until November 25.

The ban covers waste classified under code 7112 99 000 0 of the Commodity Nomenclature of Foreign Economic Activity of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), the trade bloc of Armenia, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, and also applies to shipments to EAEU countries. The current 6-month ban was set by Government Decision No. 811-N of June 11, 2026, and expires on January 7, 2027.

According to the justification, citing the Ministry of Internal Affairs, only 3 thefts of car exhaust catalytic converters have been recorded in Armenia during the ban, from 2023 to date. There were 92 thefts in 2021 and 40 in 2022.

The draft aims to protect the environment by reducing harmful emissions from vehicles operated without an exhaust after-treatment system and to prevent illegal trade in catalytic converters fitted to cars.

At least 3 calendar days before the decision takes effect, the Minister of Economy must notify the Eurasian Economic Commission, the EAEU’s regulatory body, of the temporary measure and propose a non-tariff regulation measure for exports of these goods from the EAEU customs territory. The State Revenue Committee will oversee enforcement. The draft does not change state budget revenue or spending.

Photo: Magnific