31-Mar-2022: Policy To Develop Recycling Industry
The management of e-waste in the Country is regulated under the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016 and amendments thereof. The Rules are effective from 01-10-2016 and have the following specific objectives:
- Extended Responsibility to producers to manage a system of E-waste collection, storage, transportation and environmentally sound dismantling and recycling through EPR Authorization (EPRA).
- To promote and encourage establishment of an efficient e-waste collection mechanism.
- To promote environmentally safe and sound recycling through authorized dismantlers and recyclers of e-waste.
- To minimize illegal recycling / recovery operations.
- Reduce hazardous substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE).
Under the aforesaid rules, provisions have been made for dismantling and recycling of e-waste. The dismantlers and recyclers have to obtain authorization from concern State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs)/ Pollution Control Committees (PCCs). The concerned SPCB/PCC grants authorization after ensuring that the dismantlers and recyclers have the dismantling and recycling facilities as per the guidelines of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Presently four hundred and sixty-eight (468) numbers dismantlers/recyclers of E-Waste are operating in twenty-two (22) States namely Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Gujarat, Goa, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Kerala, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and West Bengal. These authorised dismantlers/recyclers have annual processing capacity of 13,85,932.22 tonnes.
Principle of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) has been implemented for management of e-waste in the country. Under EPR, Producers have to collect targeted quantity of e-waste for environmentally sound dismantling and recycling only through an authorised dismantlers and recyclers. The authorized dismantler and recyclers are required to carry out dismantling and recycling of e-waste in an environmentally sound manner as per the guidelines published by CPCB. In a dismantling and recycling facilities, the number of employees depends on its processing capacity.
As per the information provided by Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), being the nodal ministry for electronics and IT, MeitY has amended the existing Scheme for Promotion of Manufacturing of Electronic Components and Semiconductors (SPECS) to provide support for setting up of state-of-art e-waste recycling facilities for extraction of precious metals from e-waste components. The scheme envisioned for financial incentive of 25% on capital expenditure. The salient feature of the scheme inter-alia is as under:
- The scheme will provide financial incentive of 25% on capital expenditure for the identified list of electronic goods that comprise downstream value chain of electronic products, i.e., electronic components, semiconductor/ display fabrication units, Assembly, Testing, Marking and Packaging (ATMP) units, specialized sub-assemblies and capital goods for manufacture of aforesaid goods, all of which involve high value added manufacturing.
- The Scheme will be applicable to investments in new units and expansion of capacity/ modernization and diversification of existing units. Application under the Scheme can be made by any entity registered in India.
- The capital expenditure will be total of expenditure in plant, machinery, equipment, associated utilities and technology, including for Research & Development (R&D).
- The Scheme is open for applications initially for 3 years from the date of its notification. Incentives under the Scheme will be applicable from the date of acknowledgment of the application. The incentives will be available for investment made within 5 years from the date of acknowledgement of application.
- The Scheme will be implemented through a nodal agency which will act as Project Management Agency (PMA) and be responsible for providing secretarial, managerial and implementation support and carrying out other responsibilities as assigned by MeitY from time to time.
24-Mar-2022: Biological Diversity Act, 2002
National Biodiversity Authority is a statutory body established under Section 8 of the Act for the implementation of the provisions of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 (BD Act, 2002). The National Biodiversity Authority facilitates and regulates the activities pertaining to access of biological resources, associated knowledge, sharing of benefits arising out of the use of biological resources, publication of Internationally Recognized Certificate of Compliance (IRCC) and provide technical support to States for notifying the Biodiversity Heritage Sites.
Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) have been constituted by the local bodies in the States and Union Territories. The total 2,76,713 BMCs have been constituted in 28 States and 7 UTs. One of the responsibilities of the BMCs is to prepare the People’s Biodiversity Registers (PBRs), in consultation with local people. Till date, 2,66,012 PBRs have been prepared across the country.
State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) have been constituted in 28 States and 8 UTs. The SBBs are discharging their functions as provided in the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 and State-Specific Biological Diversity Rules. In order to further strengthen the SBBs, the NBA provides necessary technical cum financial assistance to the SBBs.
11-Feb-2022: Health Checks on Imported Livestock
The Live-stock Importation Act, 1898 empowers the Government to make better provision for the regulation of the importation of live-stock which is liable to be affected by infectious or contagious disorders. In exercise of the power conferred by Section 3 of the Live-stock Importation Act, 1898 (9 of the 1898), all live animals are presently allowed only through the seaports or airports located at Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad (for pet dog, pet cat and Grand Parent Stock of Poultry only) and Bengaluru (for pet dog, pet cat and Grand Parent Stock of Poultry only). Any other port of entry may also be notified by the Central Government from time to time. The import of live animals is subject to the fulfillment of a valid and authenticated Veterinary Certificate issued by the official veterinarian of the exporting country or country of origin as per Indian health protocol. All the importers, before embarkment shall intimate the Quarantine Officer or Regional Officer, Animal Quarantine and Certification Station and will seek permission seven days in advance (relaxable up to three days in pressing circumstances) prior to actual shipment so that proper arrangement could be made in the quarantine premises wherever applicable. The importer has to submit the copies of all documents including valid licence issued by the Director General of Foreign Trade, authenticated Veterinary Certificate issued by the official veterinarian of the exporting country for getting permission from Animal Quarantine Officer or Regional Officer of the respective port of entry.
The imported animals shall be subjected to post import quarantine for a specified period as indicated in the health certificate applicable for import of a particular animal at a given time. The live animals, during the quarantine period, shall be liable to undergo diagnostic tests for the diseases as stipulated in the post import guidelines in the animal health protocol issued by the Government of India or as deemed necessary by the Government of India for protection of human and animal health under the supervision of Animal Quarantine Officer at the cost of importer/owner.
If the Regional Officer or Quarantine officer, during the quarantine of such animal(s), finds that the animal(s) imported contains any exotic or other infectious diseases even though present in the country, then the Regional Officer or Quarantine Officer may, by giving a notice to the importer through a verifiable means, to deport or re-export the animal(s) to the country of origin within fifteen days or within such period as further may be allowed. Where the importer fails to take action as directed by Regional Officer or Quarantine Officer such animal(s) within such time as may be allowed for the purpose, the Regional Officer or Quarantine officer may destroy the animal(s) at the cost of importer or owner.