Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management & Transboundary Movement) Amendment Rules, 2019:

In a recent press release as on 6^th of March 2019, it has been made clear that the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, has amended the Hazardous Waste (Management & Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016 (vide notification G.S.R.  G.S.R. XX (E), dated 01 March 2019). The amended rules shall be known as Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management & Transboundary Movement) Amendment Rules, 2019. The main motive behind these amendments is to strengthen the implementation of environmentally sound management of hazardous waste in the country.  

Salient features of the Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management & Transboundary Movement) Amendment Rules, 2019 are as follows:

1. Solid plastic waste has been prohibited from import into the country including in Special Economic Zones (SEZ) and by Export Oriented Units (EOU).
2. Exporters of silk waste have now been given exemption from requiring permission from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
3. Electrical and electronic assemblies and components manufactured in and exported from India if found defective can now be imported back into the country, within a year of export, without obtaining permission from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
4. Industries which do not require consent under Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1974 and Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1981, are now exempted from requiring authorization also under the Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management & Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016, provided that hazardous and other wastes generated by such industries are handed over to the authorized actual users, waste collectors or disposal facilities.