As per Press Release by Press Information Bureau (PIB) dated 28th June, 2022, the Government will set up national and state level control rooms and special enforcement teams for effective enforcement of ban on identified Single Use Plastic (“SUP”) items from 1st July 2022.
These steps have been taken by the Government pursuant to its move to ban manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of SUP items having low utility and high littering potential, with effect from 1st July, 2022.
The Drive Started a Year Ago
Earlier, by an amendment dated 12.08.2021 to the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 (“Amendment”), the manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of following SUPs, including polystyrene and expanded polystyrene, commodities have been banned from 1st July, 2022
The said Amendment also prohibited the manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of plastic carry bags having thickness of less than 75 microns from 30th September, 2021. It has further been mandated that the permitted thickness of carry bags made of virgin or recycled plastic will be 120 microns or more, from 31st December, 2022.
Recent Awareness Campaign by the Centre and the States
Subsequently, the Central Pollution Control Board (“CPCB”) issued a notice on 4th February, 2022 directing all
- producers,
- stockists,
- retailers,
- shopkeepers,
- e-commerce companies,
- street vendors,
- commercial establishments (malls/market place/shopping centres/cinema houses/tourist locations/schools/colleges/office complexes/ hospitals and other institutions) and
- general public
to stop production, stocking, distribution, sale and usage of the said SUPs from 1st July, 2022 and to ensure zero inventory of those items by 30th June, 2022.
Recently, the Pollution Control Board of the states such as Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Odisha as well as the Delhi Pollution Control Committee have published similar notices in line with CPCB to sensitize all stakeholders and general public to elimination of SUPs.
Introduction of Extended Producers Responsibility for Smooth Transitioning from SUPs
Further, to provide a framework for moving towards sustainable plastic packaging by businesses, the the Guidelines on Extended Producers Responsibility (“EPR”) for plastic packaging have been notified under the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on 16th February, 2022. EPR is the responsibility of a producer for the environmentally sound management of the product until the end of its life. The enforceable prescription of targets for reuse of rigid plastic packaging and use of recycled plastic content in plastic packaging has been incorporated under the Guidelines to reduce the use of fresh plastic material for the manufacture of plastic packaging.
Connect with us to know if these changes has any implications on your business and help us build an efficient compliance management system for your organization. Our flagship compliance tool Komrisk can help you mitigate your overall compliance risk. To know more connect with us now!
The Sources:
- PIB Press Release dated 28.06.22: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1837518
- Amendment dated 12.08.2021 to the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016: https://moef.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/SUP-notification-12082021.pdf
- CPCB Notice dated 04.22: https://cpcb.nic.in/openpdffile.php?id=TGF0ZXN0RmlsZS8zNDNfMTY0Mzk3NzUwNF9tZWRpYXBob3RvNjI3My5wZGY=
- Guidelines on Extended Producers Responsibility dated 16.02.22: Plastic-Waste-Management-Amendment-Rules-2022-1.pdf (moef.gov.in)
Written by: Amiya Mukherjee
Disclaimer
All material included in this blog is for informational purposes only and does not purport to be or constitute legal or other advice. This blog should not be used as a substitute for specific legal advice. Professional legal advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from an action as a result of the contents of this blog. We exclude any liability (including without limitation that for negligence or for any damages of any kind) for the content of this blog. The views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of the author/(s) alone and do not necessarily reflect the official position of Lexplosion Solutions. We make no representations, warranties or undertakings about any of the information, content or materials provided in this blog (including, without limitation, any as to quality, accuracy, completeness or reliability). All the contents of this blog, including the design, text, graphics, their selection and arrangement are the intellectual property of Lexplosion Solutions Private Limited and/or its licensors.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, and all moral rights are asserted and reserved.
