The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has issued a stringent notice, urging all manufacturers and importers of plastic raw materials, along with micro and small producers and sellers of plastic packaging, to immediately register on the Centralized Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Portal. The CPCB warned that failure to comply will result in necessary action being taken by concerned authorities under the provisions of the Plastic Waste Management (PWM) Rules, 2016.
This directive stems from the amendments to the PWM Rules, 2016, which were notified by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) on March 14, 2024. These amendments made it mandatory for specific entities to register on the centralized portal for plastic packaging.
The categories of entities required to register include:
- Manufacturers of plastic raw materials
- Importers of plastic raw materials
- Micro & Small Producers
- Sellers of plastic raw material
The CPCB has confirmed that all necessary provisions for registration have been made available on the EPR Plastic Portal. Furthermore, detailed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and comprehensive Guidance Manuals, covering application formats, fees, and submission instructions, have also been uploaded to assist entities in the registration process.
Despite these provisions and guidance, the CPCB has observed that a significant number of manufacturers, importers, sellers of plastic raw material, and producers in the MSME category have yet to register on the portal.
