The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has issued a show cause notices to 479 Brand Owners under the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016.
It may be recalled that the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) had issued the Guidelines for Extended Producer Responsibility for Plastic Packaging on 16th February, 2022.
The guidelines required certain entities, including brand owners, to register themselves on the EPR portal. These entities were not permitted to carry on any business without obtaining this registration. They were also prevented from dealing with any entities that were not registered on the portal.
However, through the transaction details provided by Producers, Importers, Brand Owners (PIBOs), it has come to the knowledge of the CPCB that certain transactions were carried out with unregistered Brand Owners in violation of the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016.
Hence, the CPCB had issued directions dated 19th April, 2023 mandating the entities to get themselves registered on the EPR portal by 4th May, 2023. However, it is observed by the CPCB that no such application for registration was made by the said entities. Hence, the CPCB has issued a show cause notice to these entities for taking the following actions:
- closure operations of the unit
- levying environmental compensation for non-compliance of the provisions of the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016
