On February 4, 2025, according to the revised "Plastic Waste Management Rules" by the Indian Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, there will be new labeling requirements for plastic packaging in the Indian market starting from July 1, 2025. The relevant content is as follows: Label content and form: Manufacturers, importers, or brand owners need to provide their name, registration number generated by the Central Pollution Control Commission's centralized online portal, and other information on plastic packaging through barcodes, QR codes, or unique codes. These information can also be presented in the form of a product information manual provided with the packaging, provided that all terms of the rules are met. Label Purpose: This amendment aims to make plastic products more traceable throughout their entire lifecycle and hold industry participants accountable for their environmental impact, consistent with the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) expectations outlined in the 2016 Plastic Waste Management Regulations. It also aims to provide consumers and authorities with detailed information about plastic packaging. Violation punishment: The revised "Plastic Waste Management Rules" have added Article 19, which punishes individuals or organizations who do not comply with the regulations according to Article 15 of the Environmental Protection Law. Possible sanctions include initial fines, additional fines for each day the violation persists, and imprisonment for serious or persistent violations.
