The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has announced an extension for Producers, Importers, Brand Owners (PIBOs) and Plastic Waste Processors (PWPs) to file their annual returns for the financial year 2024-2025. The new deadline has been set for July 31, 2025.
Issued via an Office Memorandum, the extension is granted as a “special case” to facilitate the filing process and address any difficulties faced by PIBOs and PWPs. This move is intended to ensure the continued environmentally sound management of plastic packaging waste in accordance with Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Guidelines, thereby contributing to the reduction of pollution caused by littered and unmanaged plastic packaging.
The decision aligns with the provisions stipulated under the Plastic Waste Management (Second Amendment) Rules, 2023, and follows an earlier communication from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) dated May 29, 2025, on the same subject.
The Office Memorandum is addressed to the Chairman of the CPCB and confirms that the extension has received the approval of the Competent Authority within the Ministry.