Page 28 - Plastics News January 2026

ENVIRONMENT NEWS
CPCB EXTENDS DEADLINE FOR FILING ANNUAL
RETURNS UNDER EPR FOR FY 2024–25
he Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)
has issued a notice extending the dead-
Tline for filing Annual Returns (AR) under
the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
framework for the financial year 2024–25. The
extension applies to all registered Producers,
Importers, and Brand Owners (PIBOs) as well as
Plastic Waste Processors (PWPs).
According to the notice (File No: CP-20/80/2021-
UPC-II-HO-CPCB-HO-Part(1)), the original time-
lines for filing Annual Returns were June 30,
2025 for PIBOs and April 30, 2025 for PWPs,
as stipulated under the EPR Guidelines. These
deadlines were earlier extended to November
30, 2025 for both categories through a CPCB
notice dated November 13, 2025.
CPCB has now announced a further extension,
citing Clause 12.9 of the EPR Guidelines, which
allows the Central Government to permit de-
layed filing of annual returns for a period not
exceeding nine months under special circum-
stances. In line with this provision and an Office
Memorandum issued by the Ministry of Environ-
ment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) on
28 PLASTICS NEWS
December 20, 2025, the filing deadline has been
extended till January 31, 2026.
The extension has been granted as a special
case to address practical difficulties faced by
stakeholders and to facilitate smooth filing of
Annual Returns on the EPR portal for plastic
packaging.
CPCB has directed all PIBOs and PWPs who
have not yet submitted their Annual Returns for
FY 2024–25 to complete the filing process on or
before January 31, 2026. The Board cautioned
that failure to comply within the stipulated time-
line may attract Environmental Compensation
(EC) under the “Guidelines for Assessment of
Environmental Compensation to be levied for
violations of Plastic Waste Management Rules.”
The notice clarified that the extended timeline
does not apply to entities that have already filed
their Annual Returns for the said financial year.
The directive has been issued with the approval
of the competent authority.
Source - https://eprplastic.cpcb.gov.in/
January 2026