Extended Producer Responsibility entails developing a take-back system, establishing collection centres, or both, and reaching an agreement with an EPR Authorisation dismantler or recycler, individually or collectively. This Extended Producer Responsibility Protocol is one of the protocols that emphasise the necessity of manufacturers in regulating the life cycle of their products after they have been consumed. Using increasing pollution year after year, the Indian government issued an EPR policy in 2011 and afterwards empowered CPCB to authorise certification for EPR Certificate for Import.
Under the jurisdiction of the Environment Ministry, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has been given the authority to authorise new E-waste guidelines.
Is EPR Certificate for Import Mandatory in India?
To keep e-waste under control, importers and manufacturers must get an EPR Certificate for Import into India. However, importers or producers must have the necessary permits to operate in India. Importers and manufacturers may suffer debarment, fines, or both.
What Impact Does EPR Certificate For Import Has On The Environment:
- Encourage Product Reuse: The EPR strategy increases promptitude and makes it easier to disassemble products or objects for reuse and recycling. As a result, you can reuse the product or item without buying new raw materials.
- Ensure Sustainable Development: EPR promotes or encourages the conservation of natural resources, reduces the quality of waste, eliminates pollution, and so on. This summarises sustainable development, which is critical for customers and manufacturers.
- Environmental Impact: EPR Certificate decreases reliance on other waste disposal methods, such as burning (which produces hazardous gases such as formaldehyde, furans, dioxins, and so on) that are unsafe or damaging to humans when inhaled. Despite having an impact on humans, it also impacts the land structure. Furthermore, EPR decreases the efforts of local communities in physically and financially keeping garbage because EPR confirms appropriate recycling and refurbished products or their parts.
Process to Get EPR Certificate for Import in India
- Application Submission – The application must be submitted to CPCB in Form-1 within three months of these rules becoming effective.
- According to the new guidelines, Applications for EPR Registration for importing E-Waste in India (EWM Rules, 2016) can be submitted online.
- User instructions for applying to this site will be available after successful login.
- The Board will review the EPR Plan after receiving the complete application. When all requirements are met, the CPCB issues an EPR certificate for Import in Form 1 to import e-waste into India. The Board grants the authorisation within four months, and is valid for five years.
- The authority to refuse or terminate the issuance of an EPR certificate for the import of e-waste into India.
- Under the guidelines, the Central Pollution Control Board has the authority to refuse to issue an EPR certificate for the import of e-waste, but it also mandates the applicant be provided with an adequate opportunity to be heard.
- In the event of a rejection, the producer can market any EEE once authorisation is granted.
Mandatory Guidelines To Be Followed To Get EPR Certificate: –
- The producer, manufacturer, importer, refurbished, transporter, dismantler, and recycler are all accountable for any environmental or third-party damages caused by improper e-waste management and disposal.
- Producers importing or selling EEE must submit Form – 1 to the CPCB to obtain the EPR certificate for importing e-waste. If this is not done, appropriate legal action will be taken.
- For any infringement of the terms of these regulations, the importer and all other people indicated above shall be obliged to pay financial penalties as specified in the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986[1].
- Only producers with EPR authorisation will be permitted to import EEE. Therefore obtaining an EPR certificate for the import of e-waste is necessary.
- The CPCB oversees performing random checks to ensure compliance with the e-waste rules. Furthermore, the Board must identify producers or importers who have yet to apply for EPR authorisation or must follow RoHS regulations. The Board may seek assistance from the customs department or any other government agency when required.
Product list for EPR Certificate
Categories of electronic equipment |
Electric or electronic equipment code |
Information technology and telecommunication equipment: |
|
Centralised Data Processing: Mainframes, mini frames |
ITEW1 |
Personal computers |
ITEW2 |
Laptop computers |
ITEW3 |
Notebook computers |
ITEW4 |
Notepad computers |
ITEW5 |
Printers comprising cartridges |
ITEW6 |
Copying equipment |
ITEW7 |
Electric and electronic typewriters |
ITEW8 |
User terminals and systems |
ITEW9 |
Facsimile |
ITEW10 |
Telex |
ITEW11 |
Telephones |
ITEW12 |
Pay telephones |
ITEW13 |
Cellular telephones |
ITEW15 |
Answering systems |
ITEW16 |
Consumer Electric and Electronics: |
|
Television |
CEEW1 |
Refrigerator |
CEEW2 |
Washing machine |
CEEW3 |
Air conditioners, except the centralised air conditioner |
CEEW4 |
Fluorescent and other mercury-containing lamps |
CEEW5 |
Conclusion
To effectively manage e-waste, importers and manufacturers must get an EPR certificate. However, importers or producers must have the necessary permits to operate in India. Furthermore, importers or manufacturers may face fines, debarments, or both. To summarise, EPR Certificate for Import is essential from the standpoint of customers, importers, society, and manufacturers since it ensures safety, promotes sustainable development, reduces waste, and so on. Furthermore, without the EPR Certificate, an importer or manufacturer cannot operate in the Indian market. As a result, to work in India, you must first obtain EPR Registration.
Read Our Article: What Is An EPR Certificate For The Import Of E-Waste?