Background
The Government of India in the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change intends to encourage the demand for environment-friendly products that cause lesser adverse impacts on the environment, thereby, supporting the principles of ‘LIFE (Lifestyle for Environment)’, promote lower energy consumption, resource efficiency and conservation, circular economy and prevent misleading information on environmental aspects of products
Eco-labelling of products enables consumers to make informed purchase decisions as well as encourage manufacturers to transition to production of environment-friendly products leading to promotion of green industries
The Ecomark may be granted to products that meet specified environmental criteria with respect to resource consumption and environmental impacts, in particular the impact on climate change, impact on nature and biodiversity energy consumption, generation of waste, emissions to all environmental media, pollution through physical effects and use and release of hazardous substances
Compliances Under Ecomark Rules, 2024
Conditions for the Grant of Ecomark [Rule 3]
An Ecomark is to be granted to a product with a valid license or certificate of conformity under the BIS Act, 2016, and/or compliance with Quality Control Orders from the Central Government, provided it meets the criteria for Ecomark as specified in Rule 3 of Ecomark Rules 2024.
Criteria for grant of an Ecomark specified under the First Schedule may include the following:
Procedure for grant of Ecomark [Rule 4]
Validity of Ecomark: The Ecomark granted shall be valid for a period of three years or until change in Ecomark criteria for the product, whichever is earlier.
Ecomark Renewal Procedure: An application for the renewal of the Ecomark may be made to the Central Pollution Control Board upon its expiry and the provisions of sub-rules (1) to (5) of this rule and rule 3 shall apply.
Use of Ecomark [Rule 6]
No person shall use the Ecomark on any product unless he has been granted an Ecomark in respect of such product.
Verifiers [Rule 12]
Compliance of Products with Ecomarks [Rule 13(2)]
Submission of Annual report by Ecomark Holder, Verifiers and Agency [Rule 4, 11(2),12(2)]
Penalties & Punishments
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) can cancel or suspend an Ecomark if it finds that the holder provided false information or has wilfully concealed requisite details. The holder will be given a chance to explain before any action is taken. If the holder disagrees with the decision, they can appeal to the Central Government within 30 days
Penalties as per the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986:
(1) Where any person contravenes or does not comply with any of the provisions of this Act or the rules made or orders or directions issued thereunder for which no penalty is provided, he shall be liable to penalty in respect of each such contravention which shall not be less than ten thousand rupees but which may extend to fifteen lakh rupees.
(2) Where any person continues contravention under sub-section (1), he shall be liable to additional penalty of ten thousand rupees for every day during which such contravention continues.
(1) Where any company contravenes any of the provisions of this Act, the company shall be liable to penalty for each such contravention which shall not be less than one lakh rupees but which may extend to fifteen lakh rupees.
(2) Where any company continues contravention under sub-section (1), the company shall be liable to additional penalty of one lakh rupees for every day during which such contravention continues.
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