Notification/Circular No. – Instruction No. 21/2025-Customs dated July 02, 2025
Applicable Act/Rule – Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016
Effective Date – July 02, 2025
CBIC’s Instruction No. 14/2023‑Customs (dated 17 April 2023), issued in consultation with the CPCB, addressed challenges faced by importers whose EPR portal registrations were still in process. It directed that customs clearance for plastic packaging imports could proceed upon presentation of the registration application proof, with real-time tracking via the centralized EPR portal.
CBIC has reminded customs officers that any business importing plastic raw materials (like plastic pellets, resins, or preforms) must first register on the Centralized EPR Portal for Plastic Packaging.
This is now a legal requirement under the updated Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2024. Customs officers must check that the importer is registered on the portal before allowing plastic raw material shipments to be cleared at ports.
Earlier, customs could allow imports if the importer had only applied for registration (as per CBIC Instruction No. 14/2023), but now full registration is mandatory before clearance.
All importers dealing with plastic raw materials must update their compliance processes immediately to avoid shipment delays or legal issues at the port.
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