CBIC WILL PROHIBIT THE IMPORT OF SINGLE-USE PLASTIC FROM JULY 1, 2022.

The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has provided guidance on the limitations on the import of plastic products. The Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has prohibited the use of “single-use plastic” as of July 1, 2022. The MoEFCC has now provided a list of what would be prohibited as of the start of next month after making the announcement in a gazette notification dated August 12, 2021.

With effect from September 30, 2021, carry bags manufactured of virgin plastic or recycled plastic must be at least 75 microns thick, and by December 31, 2022, they must be at least 120 microns thick.

Moreover, from July 1, 2022, it will be illegal to manufacture, import, stock, distribute, sell, and use single-use plastic (SUP) products, including as polystyrene and expanded polystyrene.

The SUP includes stirrers, plates, cups, glasses, cutlery like forks, spoons, knives, and straws, trays, wrapping or packaging films around candy boxes, invitation cards, and cigarette packets, plastic or PVC banners smaller than 100 microns, and plastic sticks for balloons, flags, candy sticks, ice-cream sticks, and polystyrene (Thermocol) for decoration.