2025-04-242024/25:NU17 · p.20NUBusiness & energy
Cash ban for trading in iron and metal waste
Ban on cash payments in trade with iron and metal scrap
What's at stake: Metal theft and illegal trade in scrap affect private individuals, businesses and infrastructure alike. A cash ban could make it harder to sell stolen metal, but the question is whether it should be introduced now or wait for a broader anti-money-laundering review.
Case texts and AI reasoning are AI-translated from the Swedish originals; the Swedish text is authoritative.
What the vote decides
The question is whether the Riksdag should call on the government to introduce a ban on cash payment in trade with iron and metal scrap to combat theft, or whether the issue should instead be handled within the broader anti-money-laundering framework following an ongoing inquiry.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee backs a call for the Riksdag to urge the government to work toward a ban on cash payment in trade with iron and metal scrap, as a way to combat theft and illegal trade in metal.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 48 (M, V, C, KD, MP, L)
The reserving parties (M, V, C, KD, MP, L) want to reject the call for a cash ban and instead wait for the ongoing processing of the Environmental Criminal Law Inquiry's proposal, which holds that such a ban should be considered within the broader anti-money-laundering framework rather than as a special solution in environmental law.
Summarised from the committee report. Party labels in the summary come from the report, not from the vote.
What do the votes mean here?
Yes The committee proposal: a formal request (tillkännagivande) telling the government to act on kontantförbud vid handel med järn- och metallavfall.
No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 48 by M, V, C, KD, MP, L.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
How the AI parties would have voted
For each party: what its own plan – election manifesto and party programme – argues for in this case, next to how the party actually voted. The AI can only answer Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| AI | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | Yes | No 0/19/0/5 | differs | confidence: low | derived |
| S | Yes | Yes 91/0/0/15 | match | confidence: medium | derived |
| MP | Yes | No 0/13/0/5 | differs | confidence: medium | derived |
| C | Yes | No 0/21/0/3 | differs | confidence: low | derived |
| L | Yes | No 0/12/0/4 | differs | confidence: low | not addressed |
| KD | Yes | No 0/14/0/5 | differs | confidence: medium | derived |
| M | Yes | No 0/57/1/10 | differs | confidence: medium | derived |
| SD | Yes | Yes 63/0/0/9 | match | confidence: medium | derived |
Broke with the party line
| MArin Karapet (M, Stockholms kommun) | Abstain — party line: No |
MPs whose vote differs from their party's majority position in this division. Marked with a dark ring in the chamber view.
Committee proposal
Parliament supports what the committee states about a cash ban for trading in iron and metal waste and formally notifies the government of this. Thereby parliament grants the motions 2024/25:1398 by Martin Kinnunen et al. (SD) point 12, 2024/25:1462 by Tobias Andersson et al. (SD) point 1 and 2024/25:3109 by Anna-Caren Sätherberg et al. (S) point 52.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen ställer sig bakom det som utskottet anför om kontantförbud vid handel med järn- och metallavfall och tillkännager detta för regeringen. Därmed bifaller riksdagen motionerna 2024/25:1398 av Martin Kinnunen m.fl. (SD) yrkande 12, 2024/25:1462 av Tobias Andersson m.fl. (SD) yrkande 1 och 2024/25:3109 av Anna-Caren Sätherberg m.fl. (S) yrkande 52.
Riksdag decision: A national cash ban should be introduced for trading in iron and metal waste. This is the view of parliament, which decided to call on the government in a tillkännagivande (formal notification) to take measures to introduce such a ban. The purpose of only allowing digital payments is to make it easier to monitor suspected waste handling and to make it more difficult for organized crime. The notification was made in connection with parliament's consideration of approximately 150 proposals on economic policy in motions from the regular motion period of 2024. Parliament said no to the other motions, in part by referring to ongoing work.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants to improve support for business start-ups and review Almi's efforts to reach smaller companies and sole proprietors. (M, V, C, KD, MP, L) — Reservation 48
Plan vs actual vote
Every party, in chamber order: what its own plan pointed to, how it voted, and the reasoning behind both. Highlighted rows are where the two differ — but a vote that follows the plan is a result too, so the reasoning is there for every party.
The plan wants to counteract economic crime and emphasizes that the risk of discovery plays a major role, and demands greater societal oversight to stem fraud.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants to counteract economic crime and emphasizes that the risk of discovery plays a major role, and demands greater societal oversight to stem fraud. A cash ban on trading in iron and metal waste is just such a measure that raises the risk of discovery in thefts and illegal metal trading. The counter-proposal's demand to reject the ban and wait therefore goes against the plan's line.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill motverka ekonomisk brottslighet och betonar att risken för upptäckt spelar stor roll, samt kräver större samhällelig insyn för att stävja fusk. Ett kontantförbud vid handel med järn- och metallavfall är just en sådan åtgärd som höjer upptäcktsrisken vid stölder och illegal metallhandel. Motförslagets krav på att avslå förbudet och avvakta går därför emot planens linje.
- increased oversight against frauddecisive»Vi vill gå mot en större samhällelig insyn« (party programme ↗)“We want to move toward greater societal oversight”
- effective monitoring of economic crime»Det behövs en effektiv uppföljning av den organiserade« (party programme ↗)“There is a need for effective monitoring of organized”
- economic crime harms society»Ekonomisk brottslighet i företag leder till allvarliga konsekvenser,« (party programme ↗)“Economic crime in companies leads to serious consequences,”
- cut off crime's money flows»Tullens och polisens resurser måste öka för att komma åt de pengar som driver narkotikahandeln.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Customs and police resources must increase to reach the money that drives drug trafficking.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The election manifesto commits to striking hard against the financing of organised crime and stopping money laundering, and particularly points out theft gangs as a problem throughout the country.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto commits to striking hard against the financing of organised crime and stopping money laundering, and particularly points out theft gangs as a problem throughout the country. A cash ban on trade in scrap iron and metals aligns with that commitment. The counter-proposal wants to reject the demand and instead await preparation, which the plan's uncompromising line against the economics of crime speaks against.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet åtar sig att slå hårt mot den organiserade brottslighetens finansiering och att stoppa penningtvätt, och pekar särskilt ut stöldligorna som ett problem i hela landet. Ett kontantförbud vid handel med järn- och metallavfall ligger i linje med det åtagandet. Motförslaget vill avslå kravet och i stället invänta beredning, vilket planens kompromisslösa linje mot brottslighetens ekonomi talar emot.
- against crime financingdecisive»Slå hårt mot den organiserade brottslighetens finansiering och organisation.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strike hard against the financing and organisation of organised crime.”
- stop money laundering»Skattefusk, välfärdsbrottslighet och penningtvätt ska stoppas.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Tax fraud, welfare crime and money laundering shall be stopped.”
- combat theft gangs»Stöldligor skapar oro i hela landet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Theft gangs create unrest throughout the country.”
- uncompromising crime control»Kampen mot kriminaliteten ska vara kompromisslös.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The fight against crime shall be uncompromising.”
The counter-proposal requires that the requirement for a cash ban be rejected and that the preparation process be awaited.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The counter-proposal requires that the requirement for a cash ban be rejected and that the preparation process be awaited. The plan's commitment is to cut off the criminal economy by striking at organised crime enterprises and illegal payment flows, and it describes serious organised crime as a threat to democracy. A cash ban in the trade of metal waste aligns with that commitment, so the plan speaks against postponing the measure.
Original (Swedish)
Motförslaget kräver att kravet på kontantförbud avslås och att beredningen inväntas. Planens åtagande är att strypa den kriminella ekonomin genom att slå mot organiserad brottslighets företag och illegala betalningsflöden, och den beskriver grov organiserad brottslighet som ett hot mot demokratin. Ett kontantförbud vid handel med metallavfall ligger i linje med det åtagandet, varför planen talar emot att skjuta upp åtgärden.
- cut off gang financingdecisive»stoppa finansieringen av de kriminella gängen genom att stärka myndighetssamverkan« (2022 manifesto ↗)“stop the financing of criminal gangs by strengthening inter-agency cooperation”
- organised crime threatens democracy»grova organiserade brottsligheten utgör ett hot mot« (party programme ↗)“serious organised crime constitutes a threat to”
- stop illegal payment flows»Företags skatteflykt ska stoppas.« (party programme ↗)“Corporate tax evasion should be stopped.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The counter-proposal requires that the requirement for a cash ban is rejected.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The counter-proposal requires that the requirement for a cash ban is rejected. The plan is clear that crimes aimed at businesses shall be met with firm action and that more everyday crimes shall be cleared up, which speaks against refraining from a measure against metal thefts and illegal metal trading. The party's rule simplification line gives some support for avoiding special solutions, but weighs less than crime-fighting.
Original (Swedish)
Motförslaget kräver att kravet på kontantförbud avslås. Planen är tydlig med att brott som riktas mot företag ska mötas med krafttag och att fler vardagsbrott ska klaras upp, vilket talar emot att avstå från en åtgärd mot metallstölder och illegal metallhandel. Partiets regelförenklingslinje ger visst stöd åt att undvika särlösningar, men väger lättare än brottsbekämpningen.
- crimes against businesses shall be foughtdecisive»krafttag mot brott emot företag« (2022 manifesto ↗)“firm action against crimes against businesses”
- everyday crimes shall be cleared up»Tryggheten ska förbättras i hela landet och fler brott som drabbar folk i deras vardag ska klaras upp.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Security shall be improved throughout the country and more crimes that affect people in their daily lives shall be cleared up.”
- avoid complicated special regulations»Rensa upp i regelträsket för entreprenörer, stora som små.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Clean up in the regulatory thicket for entrepreneurs, large and small.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan is silent on cash prohibition in metal trade, but the nearest lying principle is that the justice system shall be given more tools against organized crime and that crime shall be combated.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan is silent on cash prohibition in metal trade, but the nearest lying principle is that the justice system shall be given more tools against organized crime and that crime shall be combated. The counter-proposal demands that the cash prohibition be rejected and that preparation be awaited, which goes against the plan's line that crime fighting shall be strengthened. The plan's demand for reduced regulatory burden does, admittedly, speak for caution with special solutions, but weighs lighter than crime fighting.
Original (Swedish)
Planen är tyst om kontantförbud vid metallhandel, men den närmast liggande principen är att rättsväsendet ska ges fler verktyg mot organiserad brottslighet och att brott ska beivras. Motförslaget kräver att kontantförbudet avslås och att beredning inväntas, vilket går emot planens linje att brottsbekämpningen ska stärkas. Planens krav på minskad regelbörda talar visserligen för återhållsamhet med särlösningar, men väger lättare än brottsbekämpningen.
- more tools against crimedecisive»Ge polisen fler verktyg och vapen.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Give the police more tools and weapons.”
- against organized crime»Påföljdssystemet ska förändras så att återfall och upprepad brottslighet ger strängare straff, liksom medverkan i organiserad brottslighet.« (party programme ↗)“The punishment system shall be changed so that relapse and repeated crime result in harsher penalties, as does participation in organized crime.”
- reduced regulatory burden»Regelbördan för små företag ska minska, genom ansträngningar på både kommunal, statlig och europeisk nivå, och offentliga beslut analyseras ur småföretagarperspektiv.« (party programme ↗)“Regulatory burden for small businesses shall be reduced through efforts at municipal, national and European levels, and public decisions shall be analyzed from a small business perspective.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The counter-proposal requires that the requirement for cash ban be rejected and that deliberation be awaited.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The counter-proposal requires that the requirement for cash ban be rejected and that deliberation be awaited. The plan establishes that all crimes shall be prosecuted effectively and without exception and that respect for the laws shall be maintained with firmness, and the election manifesto moreover wants authorities to more easily be able to share information to prevent and solve crimes. To refrain from a tool against theft and illegal metal trade goes therefore against the plan's crime-fighting commitment.
Original (Swedish)
Motförslaget kräver att kravet på kontantförbud avslås och att beredningen inväntas. Planen slår fast att alla brott ska beivras effektivt och utan undantag och att respekten för lagarna ska upprätthållas med fasthet, och valmanifestet vill dessutom att myndigheter enklare ska kunna dela uppgifter för att förebygga och klara upp brott. Att avstå från ett verktyg mot stölder och illegal metallhandel går därför emot planens brottsbekämpande åtagande.
- all crimes shall be prosecuteddecisive»Alla brott ska effektivt och utan undantag beivras« (party programme ↗)“All crimes shall be effectively and without exception prosecuted”
- firmness against crime»med fasthet och förövare av brott ska skyndsamt lagföras.« (party programme ↗)“with firmness and perpetrators of crime shall be expeditiously prosecuted.”
- tools against organized crime»Total översyn av sekretessreglerna, så att myndigheter kan dela uppgifter mellan sig för att förebygga och klara upp brott.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Total review of confidentiality rules, so that authorities can share data with each other to prevent and solve crime.”
- regulatory burden for business»Tillkommande lagar bör prövas ur ett småföretagarperspektiv.« (party programme ↗)“Forthcoming laws should be tested from a small business perspective.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan takes a clear stance against theft rings that export metal and stolen goods out of the country and wants to give customs powerful powers to stop them.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan takes a clear stance against theft rings that export metal and stolen goods out of the country and wants to give customs powerful powers to stop them. A cash ban in trade with iron and metal scrap aligns with that line and with the commitment to cut criminals' income. The counter-proposal wants to reject the demand and await processing, which the plan does not support. That the plan simultaneously wants to reduce red tape carries less weight than the requirement to stop theft crime.
Original (Swedish)
Planen tar tydlig ställning mot stöldligor som för metall och stöldgods ut ur landet och vill ge tullen kraftfulla befogenheter för att stoppa dem. Ett kontantförbud vid handel med järn- och metallavfall ligger i linje med den linjen och med åtagandet att strypa kriminellas intäkter. Motförslaget vill avslå kravet och avvakta beredning, vilket planen inte ger stöd för. Att planen samtidigt vill minska regelkrånglet väger lättare än kravet på att stoppa stöldbrottsligheten.
- powerful measures against theft ringsdecisive»Stärka tullen med mer resurser och kraftfulla befogenheter för att stoppa stöldligor och vapensmugglare« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen customs with more resources and powerful powers to stop theft rings and weapons smugglers”
- stolen goods exported out of the country»Sverige har samtidigt blivit hårt drabbat av utländska stöldligor – som plockar på sig bilar, bildelar, båtmotorer och dyra föremål och för dem ut ur landet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden has meanwhile been hard hit by foreign theft rings – who pick cars, car parts, boat motors and expensive items and export them out of the country.”
- cut criminals' income»Ta gängens pengar och införa en omvänd bevisbörda för att kunna beslagta gängmedlemmarnas lyxprylar« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Take gangs' money and introduce a reversed burden of proof to be able to seize gang members' luxury items”
- reduced red tape for companies»Ta bort en tredjedel av företagens administrationskostnader och en tredjedel av regelkrånglet« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Eliminate one third of companies' administrative costs and one third of red tape”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan gives criminal policy the highest priority and explicitly wants to combat crime that affects entrepreneurs and organized theft crime.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan gives criminal policy the highest priority and explicitly wants to combat crime that affects entrepreneurs and organized theft crime. A cash ban on trade in scrap iron and metals is such a tool against thefts and illegal trade, and the counter-proposal's demand for rejection therefore goes against the plan. The plan's simultaneous desire to protect cash's position points somewhat in the other direction, but the general cash principle weighs less than the commitment to strangle the criminal economy.
Original (Swedish)
Planen ger kriminalpolitiken högsta prioritet och vill uttryckligen bekämpa den brottslighet som drabbar företagare och den organiserade stöldbrottsligheten. Ett kontantförbud vid handel med järn- och metallavfall är ett sådant verktyg mot stölder och illegal handel, och motförslagets krav på avslag går därför emot planen. Att planen samtidigt vill värna kontanternas ställning talar delvis åt andra hållet, men den generella kontantprincipen väger lättare än åtagandet att strypa den kriminella ekonomin.
- crime against entrepreneurs is combateddecisive»Bekämpa brottslighet som drabbar företagare« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Combat crime that affects entrepreneurs”
- uncompromising stance against organized crime»Sverigedemokraterna anser att få politiska åtgärder är för långtgående när det kommer till att pressa tillbaka både de kriminella gängen och den kultur som gör att de får fäste.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The Sweden Democrats believe that few political measures are too far-reaching when it comes to pushing back both criminal gangs and the culture that gives them a foothold.”
- zero tolerance against crime»Införa nolltolerans mot brott så att även mindre allvarliga brott utreds och lagförs« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Introduce zero tolerance against crime so that even less serious crimes are investigated and prosecuted”
- protect cash»Försvara kontanternas ställning som betalmedel i Sverige« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Defend cash's position as a means of payment in Sweden”
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2024/25:NU17)
- Committee report full text (HC01NU17)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2024/25:1157 — Stopp för konkurrens från det offentliga av Larry Söder (KD)
- Motion 2024/25:1306 — Införande av konkurrenskraftsindex av Larry Söder (KD)
- Motion 2024/25:1369 — Svenskt fiske och vattenbruk av Martin Kinnunen m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1395 — Jordbruk - ökad konkurrenskraft utan förlust av biologisk mångfald av Martin Kinnunen m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1398 — Cirkulär ekonomi av Martin Kinnunen m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1445 — Forskning i världsklass av Patrick Reslow m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1450 — Turism och besöksnäring av Tobias Andersson m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1451 — Svensk innovationskraft och immaterialrätt av Tobias Andersson m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1452 — Stärkande av life science-sektorn inom näringslivet av Tobias Andersson m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1455 — Nästa generation företagare av Tobias Andersson m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1456 — Näringspolitikens inriktning av Tobias Andersson m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1457 — Mineralpolitik för en stark gruvnäring av Tobias Andersson m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1459 — Konkurrensbegränsning av näringslivet av Tobias Andersson m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1460 — Kapitalförsörjning och riskkapital av Tobias Andersson m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1461 — Incitament för tillväxt av Tobias Andersson m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1462 — Hårdare reglering av handel med metallskrot av Tobias Andersson m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1464 — En tillväxtorienterad politik för industrilandet Sverige av Tobias Andersson m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1466 — En handelspolitik för tillväxt av Tobias Andersson m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1467 — En framtidsinriktad it-politik av Tobias Andersson m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1468 — Det svenska stålet av Tobias Andersson m.fl. (SD)
Source: The Swedish Parliament