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Core Purpose

Notification of the Plastic Waste Management (Second Amendment) Rules, 2023, amending the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

Detailed Summary

This notification, issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on 30th October 2023 (G.S.R. 807(E)), promulgates the Plastic Waste Management (Second Amendment) Rules, 2023, further amending the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 (originally notified vide G.S.R. 320(E), dated 18th March 2016), in exercise of powers under sections 3, 6 and 25 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (29 of 1986), effective from the date of publication in the Official Gazette. Key amendments include: inserting a new sub-rule (3) to rule 2 exempting export-oriented units and Special Economic Zone units (notified under the Special Economic Zones Act, 2005 (28 of 2005)) from rule 9(1) for export-bound plastic packaging; redefining "carry bags" and "producer" in rule 3; replacing "multi-layered packaging"/"multilayered packaging" with "plastic packaging" in rules 4(1) and 9(6); replacing "urban local bodies" with "local bodies" in rule 5(1); substituting rule 11(1) to require printed producer/importer/brand-owner registration details on plastic packaging with phased effective dates of 1st July 2024 and 1st January 2025; revising rule 12 on enforcement authorities (Central Pollution Control Board, State Pollution Control Boards/Committees, and designated state officials for urban and rural areas); revising rule 13 registration procedures (Form I and Form II via a centralized online portal) and requiring valid consent under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 (6 of 1974) and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 (14 of 1981) for waste processing units, while omitting former sub-rules (9) and (11); substituting rule 16 to reconstitute a State Level Monitoring Committee with specified members including state secretaries, Pollution Control Board representatives, municipal commissioners, and NGO/industry/academic experts, meeting at least once every six months; and amending Schedule II, including changing a compliance deadline in clause 10.6 from 31st October 2023 to 30th November 2023, permitting extended annual-return filing timelines of up to nine months under new clause 12.9, and inserting new paragraph 15A allowing the Central Pollution Control Board to permit purchase of Extended Producer Responsibility certificates across categories with surplus and deficit.

Full Text

6892 GI/202 3 (1) रजिस्ट्री सं. डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No . D. L. -33004/99 EXTRAORDINARY PART II —Section 3 —Sub-section ( i) PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY No. 628] NEW DELHI , MONDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2023/KARTIKA 8, 194 5 CG-DL-E-30102023-249793 सजचव सह-अध्र्क्ष ; िाएगा सिस्ट्र् ; जनिेिक सिस्ट्र् MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE NOTIFICATION New Delhi, the 30th October , 2023 G.S.R. 807(E).—WHEREAS the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 (hereinafter referred to as the “said rules”) were notified by the Central Government in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change vide G.S.R. 320 (E), dated the 18th March, 2016 to provide s tatutory framework for plastic waste management in the country in an environmentally sound manner; AND WHEREAS in order to further strengthen the effective implementation of rules amendments are being proposed inter alia including use of information techn ology tools for online reporting replacing multi -step manual reporting and capturing of data at various stages of waste management at state and local authority level; provide for online electronic trading platform for trading of certificates generated by r egistered plastic waste processors for price discovery; AND WHEREAS the Central Government is of the opinion that it is necessary and expedient in public interest to amend the said rules; NOW, THEREFORE, in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 3, 6, and 25 of the Environment (Protection) Act , 1986 (29 of 1986), the Central Government hereby makes the following rules further to amend the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, namely: - 1. ( 1 ) These rules may be called Plastic Waste Management ( Second Amendment) Rules, 2023. (2) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette. 2. In the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 (hereinafter referred to as the said rules ), in rule 2 after sub - rule (2), the following sub -rule shall be inserted , namely: - “(3) Sub-rule (1) of rule 9 shall not apply to the export oriented units or units in special economic zones, notified by the Central Go vernment under the Special Economic Zones Act, 2005 (28 of 2005) , and to other units manufacturing plastic packaging or on plastic packaging used for packaging products for export against an order for export: Provided that this sub-rule shall not apply to pre-consumer plastic packaging waste generated by such units.” . 3. In rule 3 of the said rules, - (i) for clause (c), the following clause shall be substituted, namely: - ‘(c) “carry bags” mean bags made from plastic material or compostable plastic or biodegradable plastic, used for the purpose of carrying or dispensing, commodities, which have a self -carrying feature but do not include bags that constitute or form an integral part of the packaging in which goods are sealed prior to use” ;’; (ii) for clause (s), the following clause shall be substituted, namely: - ‘(s) “ producer” means persons engaged in manufacture of plastic packaging”; ’. 4. In rule 4 of the said rules. in sub-rule (1), for the words “multi -layered packaging”, the words “plastic packaging” shall be substituted. 5. In rule 5 of the said rules, in sub-rule (1), for the words “urban local bodies” the words “local bodies” shall be substituted. 6. In rule 9 of the said rules, in sub -rule (6), for the words “multilayered packaging” the words “plastic packaging” shall be substituted . 7. In rule 11, of the said rules, for sub -rule (1), the following sub -rule shall be substituted, namely: - “(1) Each plastic packaging shall contain the following information , printed in English, namely: - (a) name and registration certificate number for producer or importer or brand owner generated through centralized online portal specified in Schedule II for plastic packaging, in case of, rigid plastic packaging with effect from 1 July,2024 , multilayer flex ible plastic packaging having more than one layer with different types of plastics, including plastic sachet or pouches, and multi -layered plastic packaging; (b) name and registration certificate number for producer or importer or brand owner generated th rough centralized online portal specified in Schedule II for plastic packaging and thickness in case of flexible plastic packaging of single layer including plastic sachet or pouches (if single layer), plastic sheets or like and covers made of plastic shee t, carry bags; (c) name and registration certificate number for producer or importer or brand owner generated through centralized online portal specified in Schedule II for plastic packaging with effect from 1 January, 2025 and number of certificate issue d under clause (h) of sub -rule (4) in case of plastic sheet or like used for packaging and plastic packaging as well as carry bags commodities made of com postable plastic, as applicable; (d) name and certificate number issued under clause (h) of sub -rule 4 in case of plastic sheet or like used for packaging and plastic packaging as well as carry bags and commoditie s made of biodegradable plastic: Provided that the provisions of this sub -rule shall not apply to plastic packaging covered under rule 26 of the Legal Metrology Packaged Commodities Rules, 2011, and in respect of plastic packaging cases where it is technically not feasible to print the requisite information, as per specifications given in the Guidelines for use of Standard Mark and labelling r equirements under BIS Compulsory Registration Scheme for Electronic and IT Products; Provided further that the plastic packaging under the first proviso shall be approved by the Central Pollution Control Board: Provided also that the relevant information in respect of plastic packaging under the first and second proviso shall be printed on the packaging that holds together individual units of goods or the individual units of packaging.” . 8. In rule 12 of the said rules , - (a) for sub-rule (1) , the following sub -rule shall be substituted, namely : - “(1) The Central Pollution Control Board, State Pollution Control Board and Pollution Control C ommittee in respect of a Union t erritory shall be the authority for enforcement of the provisions of these rules ; (b) for sub-rule (2) the following sub-rule shall be substituted, namely: - “(2) The concerned Additional Chief Secretary or Principal Secretary or Secretary in charge of the Department of the State Government or a Union territory Admin istration responsible for municipal administration shall be the authority for enforcement of the provisions of these rules relating to waste management by waste generator, restriction or prohibition on use of plastic carry bags, plastic sheets or like, co vers made of plastic sheets and plastic packaging and items prohibited under rule 4 of these rules in the urban areas of the State or a Union territory.” ; (c) for sub-rule (3) , the following sub-rule shall be substituted, namely: - “(3) The concerned Additional Chief Secretary or Principal Secretary or Secretary in charge of the Department of the State Government or a Union t erritory Administration responsible for Panchayati Raj Institutions shall be the authority for enforcement of the provisions of these rules relating to waste management by the waste generator, restriction or prohibition on use of plastic carry bags, plastic sheets or like, covers made of plastic sheets and plastic packag ing and items prohibited under rule 4 of these rules in the rural area of the State or a Union territory.” ; (d) for sub-rule (4) , the following sub-rule shall be substituted, namely: - “(4) The auth orities referred to in sub -rule (1), (2) and (3) shall take the assistance of the District Magistrate or the Deputy Commissioner and e xecutive Head of Municipal Body for urban areas or C hief Executive Officer of the District level Panchayat s for rural areas within the territorial limits of the jurisdict ion of the concerned district in respect of the enforcement of the provisions of these rules” . 9. In rule 13 of the said rules ,- (a) for sub rule (2), the following sub-rule shall be substituted , namely: - “(2) Every producer or importer or br and-owner shall for the purpose of one –time registration make an application in Form I t hrough the centralized online portal specified in Schedule II , to - (i) the State Pollution Control Board or the Pollution Control Committee of the Union territory concerned, if operating in one or two States or Union t erritories; or (ii) the Central Pollution Control Board, if operating in more than two States or Union t erritories.” ; (b) for sub rule (3), the following sub-rule shall be substituted , namely: - “(3) Every person recycling or processing waste or proposing to recycle or process plastic waste shall for the purpose of one -time registration make an application to the concerned State Pollution Control Board or the Pollution Control Committee in For m II through Centralized online portal specified in Schedule –II.”; (c) for sub-rule (5), the following sub-rule shall be substituted, namely: - “(5) The State Pollution Control Board or the Pollution Control Committee shall not grant registration to plastic waste recycling or processing units unless the unit possesses a valid consent under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 (6 of 1974) and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 (14 of 1981) and a certificate of registration issued by the District Industries Centre or any other Government agency authorised in this regard.” ; (d) Sub-rule (9) shall be omitted. (e) Sub-rule (11) shall be omitted. 10. For rule 16 of the said rules , the following rule shall be substituted, namely: - “16. State Level Monito ring Committee. - (1) The State Government or the Union t erritory Administration shall, for the purpose of effective monitoring of implementation of these rules, constitute a St ate Level Monitoring Committee , consisting of the following persons, namely: - (a) Additional Chief Secretary or Principal Secretary or Secretary in charge of the Department of the State Government or Union t erritory Administration responsible for municipal administration Chairman ; (b) Additional Chief Secretary or Principal Secretary or Secretary in charge of the Department of the State Government or Union t erritory Administration responsible of Panchayati R aj Institutions Co- Chairman ; (c) Additional Chief Secretary or Principal Secretary or Secretary in charge of the Department of the State Government or Union t erritory Administration responsible of Urban Development or his nominee Member ; (d) Additional Chief Secretary or Principal Secretary or Secretary in charge of the Department of the State Government or Union territory Administration responsible of Rural Development or his n ominee Member ; (e) Additional Chief Secretary or Principal Secretary or Secretary in charge of the Department of the State Government or Union t erritory Administration responsible of Environment or his nominee Member ; (f) Member Secretary of the State Pollution Control B oard or Pollution Control Committee Member ; (g) Municipal Commissioners of cities having population of one million or more Member ; (h) One Municipal Commissioner from cities other than cities having population of one million or more Member ; (i) One Chief Executive Officer of the District Level Panchayats Member; (j) One expert from Non -Governmental Organisation involved in Waste management to be nominated by the State Government or Union territo ry Administration Member ; (k) One r epresentative of an industry association to be nominated by the State Government or Union territory Administration Member ; (l) One expert from the field of Industry to be nominated by the State Government or Union territory Administration Member ; (m) One expert fr om academia to be nominated by the State Government or Union territory Admini stration Member ; (n) Director i n charge, Department of the State Government or a Union t erritory administration responsible for Panchayati R aj Institutions Member (o) Director in charge, Department of the State Government or a Union t erritory administration responsible for municipal administration Member Secretary . (2) The State Level Monitoring Committee shall meet at least once in s ix months and may invite experts, if it considers necessary.” 11. In schedule II to the said rules, - (a) in paragraph 6, for clause (6.3) the following clause shall be substituted, namely: - “(6.3) The entities obligated to register under clause (6.1) shall not deal with any un-registered entity having obligation to register under clause (6.1) through on-line centralized portal developed by the Central Pollution Control Board” ; (b) in paragraph 10, in clause (10.6), in the proviso, for the words and numbers “31st October 2023 ”, the following words and numbers shall be substituted, namely: - “30th November 2023”; (c) in paragraph 12, after clause (12.8), the following clauses shall be inserted , namely: - “(12. 9) The Central Government may permit filing of annual returns by Producers, Importers and Brand owners under clause 10.6 and by Plastic Waste Processors under clause 11.2 for a period not exceeding nine months for the reasons to be recorded in writing .” (d) after paragraph 15, the following paragraph shall be inserted, namely: - “ 15A Purchase of extended producer responsibility certificate from different categories. - (1) The Central Pollution Control Board may allow purchase of extended producer responsibility certificates for those categories where surplus exists over the extended producer responsibility obligati on of that category for fulfilment of extended producer responsibility obligation of such category where deficit exists. (2) In such cases, the Central Pollution Control Board shall prescribe the quantum of extended producer responsibility certificates o f the category required to be procured, where surplus exists, for fulfilment of extended producer responsibility obligation of the category where deficit is present, based on the availability and cost of collection, segregation and processing for different categories of plastic packaging waste. (3) The provision of this paragraph shall cease to apply at the end of 2025 -2026.”. [F. No . 12/31/2023 –HSM ] Naresh Pal Gangawar , Addl. Secy. Note : The principal rules were published in the Gazette of India, vide number G.S.R. 320(E), dated the 18th March, 2016 and subsequently amended vide notification number G.S.R. 285(E), dated the 27th March, 2018, vide notification number G.S.R. 571(E), dated the 12 th August, 2021, vide notification number G.S.R. 647(E), dated the 17th August, 2021, vide notification number G.S.R. 133(E) , dated the 16th February 2022 , vide notification number G.S.R. 522(E) , dated the 6th July 2022 and last ly amended vide notificati on number G.S.R. 318(E) , dated the 27th April 2023 . Uploaded by Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring R oad, Mayapuri, New Delhi -110064 and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delh i-110054.

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