Page 35 - Plastic News Issue August 2025
P. 35
ENVIRONMENT NEWS
DEADLINE EXTENDED FOR PLASTIC WASTE ANNUAL
RETURNS, MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT ANNOUNCES
ew Delhi – The Ministry of Environment,
Forest and Climate Change has
Nannounced an extension for the filing
of annual returns for Producers, Importers,
and Brand-Owners (PIBOs) and Plastic Waste
Processors (PWPs). The new deadline for the
2024-25 financial year is now September 30,
2025. Source-https://eprplastic.cpcb.gov.in/#/plastic/home
New Delhi, July 2, 2025 – The Government of In-
In an official memorandum dated July 29,
2025, the ministry stated that the extension dia has issued a crucial directive making it man-
was granted as a "special case" to address datory for all importers of plastic raw material to
difficulties and facilitate the filing process. The register on the Centralized Extended Producer
decision aims to ensure the "environmentally Responsibility (EPR) Portal. This move, outlined
sound management of plastic packaging waste" in Instruction No. 21/2025-Customs, aims to bol-
in line with the Extended Producer Responsibility ster plastic waste management efforts across
(EPR) guidelines, thereby helping to reduce the country.
pollution from unmanaged plastic waste. The instruction, issued by the Ministry of Fi-
nance's Department of Revenue (Central Board
The directive, issued with the approval of the
Competent Authority, references a letter from of Indirect Taxes & Customs), emphasizes that
the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) "importers of plastic raw material" include those
dated July 24, 2025. This move aligns with importing plastic packaging, carry bags, plastic
the provisions outlined in the Plastic Waste sheets, or similar materials used for manufactur-
Management (Second Amendment) Rules, 2023. ing plastic packaging or as intermediate mate-
rial. Such importers are now required to register
The memorandum, signed by Director Amit on the EPR Portal as per Section 9 of the EPR
Raj, has been forwarded to the Chairman of Guidelines.
the CPCB and other senior officials for their
information. This extension provides a crucial This latest directive builds upon previous com-
additional two months for registered PIBOs and munications, referencing CBIC Instruction No.
PWPs to complete their compliance obligations 14/2023 and a Control Pollution Control Board
for the previous financial year. (CPCB) letter dated June 13, 2025. The govern-
ment's push for comprehensive EPR compliance
August 2025 PLASTICS NEWS 35
