The Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) of India introduced amendments to the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022, publishing the E-Waste (Management) Second Amendment Rules, 2023, on July 25, 2023. Key updates in the E-Waste (Management) Second Amendment Rules include:
1. Ensuring the secure, accountable, and sustainable management of refrigerant generated during the manufacturing of air-conditioning and refrigeration devices, following the Central Pollution Control Board’s approved destruction technologies guidelines.
2. Extending the exemption from the provision on reducing the use of hazardous substances for electrical and electronic equipment specified in Schedule – II C placed on the market on or before April 1, 2025.
3. Extending the exemption from the provision on reducing the use of hazardous substances for components, consumables, parts, and spares required for electrical and electronic equipment mentioned in sub-rule (2A) until April 1, 2028, if reduction of hazardous substances compliant parts and spares are unavailable.
4. Addition of Schedule – II A, Schedule – II B, and Schedule – II C.