India Regulatory News

On March 10, 2022, the Department of Chemicals & Petrochemicals publishes its decision to extend the Quality Control Order implementation date for five chemical products. The new date is Septembe...

On March 10, 2022, the Department of Chemicals & Petrochemicals publishes its decision to extend the Quality Control Order implementation date for five chemical products. The new date is September 12, 2022. The concerned chemical products are Ethylene Dichloride, Vinyl Chloride Monomer, Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene, and Polycarbonate. 

You can view the official gazette here. 

The Department of Chemicals & Petrochemicals on March 11, 2022, published its decision to extend the Quality Control Order implementation date for six chemical products. The new implementation ...

The Department of Chemicals & Petrochemicals on March 11, 2022, published its decision to extend the Quality Control Order implementation date for six chemical products. The new implementation date is September 13, 2022. The concerned chemical products are:

1. Acetone (Quality Control) Order, 2020

2. Gamma Picoline (Quality Control) Order, 2020

3. Beta Picoline (Quality Control) Order, 2020

4. Potassium Carbonate (Quality Control) Order, 2020

5. Pyridine (Quality Control) Order, 2020

6. Sodium Tripolyphosphate (Quality Control) Order, 2020

You can view the official gazette here. 

The Bureau of Indian Standards launch a consultation on a draught amended standard for terephthalic acid, which includes new standards, sampling techniques, and testing on February 23, 2022.The fi...

The Bureau of Indian Standards launch a consultation on a draught amended standard for terephthalic acid, which includes new standards, sampling techniques, and testing on February 23, 2022.

The first edition of the standard was released in 2001. In this (first) iteration, test procedures for determining colour, ash, and acid value have been updated to reflect the most recent technological advances. The HPLC method for determining the amount of 4-carboxybenzaldehyde (4-CBA) and p-toluic acid (p-TA) has also been changed. The test technique for determining p-toluic acid, 4-carboxybenzaldehyde, and benzoic acid in purified terephthalic acid using normal voltage mode capillary electrophoresis, as well as the test method for determining titanium in Annex E, have been incorporated. IS 15030: 2001 Amendment No. 1 has been incorporated into this revision.

Terephthalic acid is a popular constituent in paints, synthetic fibres, and resins, as well as a step in the production of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) for liquid packing and polyester films.

Because of the substance's flammable and explosive properties, the BIS has proposed modifying the standard. This includes the following requirements: 

The technique for obtaining representative samples of the material and the compliance criteria shall be as specified in IS 5299, section 4. The BIS is soliciting comments through March 19 on the modifications to Indian Standard (IS) 15030:2001.

Kindly refer https://www.gpcgateway.com/uploads/media/Nb5PCtiqypot4lwCTxsyqdsWm.pdf for more information. 

On 16 February 2022, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change published the Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2022, amending the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016. The Rul...

On 16 February 2022, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change published the Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2022, amending the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016. The Rules brought in Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) to ensure a collective system of plastic wastes by the producer and brand owners.

The amended guideline provides the framework for further implementation of EPR and the prohibition of identified single-use plastic items with effect from July 01, 2022. Generators of plastic waste have to minimize plastic waste generation, not litter the environment with plastic waste and store them according to the rules.

The Rules affect importers, brand owners and plastic waste processors as the entities that fall under the category of Extended Producer Responsibility. They have to register in the centralized portal developed by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The new rules classify plastics into four categories and mandate recycling and reusing a certain percentage of plastic produced and used by manufacturers, importers, and brand owners. From 2018 to 2021, 310 companies have been approved as brand owners and four companies have been approved as producers.

Brand Owners (BO) include online platforms/marketplaces, supermarkets/retail chains other than those, micro and small enterprises as per the criteria of Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Government of India.

CPCB is also preparing an online portal and this will be the single point for the registration as well as filing of annual reports by producers, importers, brand-owners, and plastic waste processors of plastic packaging waste. The portal is expected to be ready by March 31, 2022.

The amended Rules also lay out a roadmap for upcoming activities (see below Table). 

For example, Category I needs to comply with 50% recycling and reusing of plastics by 2025 and Category III needs to comply with 30% recycling and reusing by 2025.

According to the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Producers, Importers, and Brand Owners (PIBOs) that was amended and published in March 2021, registrants need to provide documents such as proof of selling in more than two states, valid consents under Air and Water Act (if the unit has ap production facility), documents related to Action Plan and others.

PIBOs are expected to submit progress reports half-yearly, addressing their management of plastic waste for each State in their Extended Producers Responsibility action plan. The submission should be done within 15 days from completing the preceding half-year team. The report should indicate the quantity as well as the type of plastic waste, the evidence of state-wise collection of waste according to EPR target and the details of your plastic waste collection, management, and processing.

PIBOs must provide the details of recycling certificates only from registered recyclers, as well as the quantity sent for end-of-life disposal, by June 30 of the next fiscal year, while making yearly returns on the online portal.

To know your compliance requirements, contact compliance@gpcregulatory.com 

Click here to view the Official Gazette 

At the UN Environment Assembly that happened from 28th February to 2nd March, along with Japan, India has placed another proposal on the table which states an alternative resolution on single use p...

At the UN Environment Assembly that happened from 28^th February to 2^nd March, along with Japan, India has placed another proposal on the table which states an alternative resolution on single use plastics. It focuses on a voluntary framework rather than a mandate for the creation of a legally binding global agreement.

The resolution, introduced on October 20 by Rwanda and Peru and co-sponsored by 53 countries including Norway, Chile, Pakistan, and the EU, is considered the most ambitious and calls for a full life cycle approach to plastics, addressing plastic production as well as harmful additives and waste management. It proposes an open mandate for a negotiating committee, which means that as discussions progress, negotiators could work on a wide range of issues related to plastic pollution, such as "product design and use, including compounds, additives, and harmful substances, as well as intentionally added microplastics."

A second resolution, submitted by Japan on December 6 and supported by Antigua and Barbuda, Cambodia, Palau, and Sri Lanka, is more limited in scope. The resolution focuses on plastic waste management (rather than production) and proposes a closed mandate, which means that negotiators could only address this aspect of plastic pollution when negotiating an agreement. Meanwhile, India jumped into the fray at the last minute with an alternative resolution on single-use plastics, which was published on January 31. Unlike the other proposals, India's document emphasises a voluntary framework rather than a mandate to create a legally binding global agreement. Several UN member states have requested that the two original proposals be combined prior to the main meeting. In January, more than 70 consumer brands, including Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Unilever, and Ikea, issued a joint statement outlining plans to reduce plastic production and use.

Till the 16th of March 2022, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) consults on the draft Indian Standard (IS) for 3,4-dichlorophenyl isocyanate. BIS published a daft in February, describing the subs...

Till the 16^th of March 2022, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) consults on the draft Indian Standard (IS) for 3,4-dichlorophenyl isocyanate. BIS published a daft in February, describing the substance as an organic compound (formula: C7H3CI2NO) used as an intermediate in organic synthesis.

This compound is irritant to many tissues which include the eyes and mucous membranes. Also, inhaling the chemical dust can result in respiratory harm. The draft includes requirements, methods of sampling and testing for the chemical. In addition to that, one has to adhere to the provisions in the following standards:

The other proposals in the draft include the following:

·       For packing, the substance should be kept in suitable drums, tankers, ISO containers, etc. depending on the agreement between the purchaser and supplier.

·       For marking, the container should bear the name of the material, name of the manufacturer and his/her recognized trademark, month and year of manufacture, lot/batch number, net weight & gross weight, label (acute toxic, irritant, & health hazard), and any other statutory requirement.

It is important to note that if the draft is approved, it will be an additional substance that requires BIS certifications. Currently, there are 52 chemical substances under compulsory BIS certification, this includes the marking on the product’s packaging.

The Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals (DCPC) in India has pushed back the deadlines for implementing quality control orders (QCOs) issued by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) for five su...

The Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals (DCPC) in India has pushed back the deadlines for implementing quality control orders (QCOs) issued by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) for five substances. These substances are tagged ‘specialty’ chemicals by the BIS and the deadline is now June 22, 2022, rather than December 21, 2021, as originally planned.

These five substances are:  

· Phthalic anhydride 

· Ethylene glycol

· Toluene 

· Terephthalic acid, and 

· N-butyl acrylate. 

The DCPC, on the 24^th of December, issues separate notifications for each chemical saying the government, after consultation with BIS, agrees that an extension is needed in the public interest. This is also attributed to the difficulties government officials are facing regarding samples collection, laboratory tests, products certification due to COVID related travel restrictions.

Therefore, manufacturers, importers, and traders of these chemicals can continue to operate under prevailing trade regulations until the new deadline set as June 22, 2022. Until then, manufacturers and distributors will have to carry relevant BIS Indian Standard (IS) specification numbers and markings on their packaging and labels.

Last Update: 2022-02-16