MoEF notifies Ecomark Rules 2024 to differentiate products having lesser adverse effects on environment

On 26-9-2024, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change notified the Ecomark Rules, 2024 to label the products that have lesser adverse impact on the environment. The provisions came into force on 26-9-2024.

Key Point:

1. Ecomark will be granted to a product on fulfilling if it has a license or a certificate of Indian Standards granted under Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016 or the Quality Control Orders issued by the Central Government.

2. Other criteria that can be regarded for grant of Ecomark:

   • reduces pollution by minimizing or eliminates the generation of waste and environmental emissions;

   • is recyclable or is made from recycled material or both;

   • reduces use of non-renewable resources, including non-renewable energy sources and natural resources;

   • reduces use of any material, which has adverse impacts on the environment.

3. The application for the Ecomark will be made to the Central Pollution Control Board (‘CPCB’) in Form 1.

4. Any Ecomark, when granted, is valid for a period of 3 years or until there is a change in the Ecomark criteria for the product.

5. The CPCB has the power to cancel Ecomark if it thinks that the holder of the Ecomark has furnished false information or has wilfully concealed any information.

6. The Steering Committee will be responsible for the effective implementation of these rules.

7. Web portral for Ecomark:

   • CPCB will develop a web portal for making applications/ grant of Ecomark/ submission of annual reports.

   • Every holder of Ecomark/ Verifier/ Agency will have to submit an annual report to CPCB on this portal on or before 31st May of each year.

   • CPCB will publish the following information on the web protal:

     • details of each holder of Ecomark and the product;

     • list of products which have been granted Ecomark;

     • report in respect of each product based on which such Ecomark has been granted to the product;

     • benefits of products with Ecomark;

     • global best practices in respect of each product granted with the Ecomark.

8. CPCB will register the entities having qualification and experience in the field of environment as Verifiers.

9. The State Pollution Control Board and the Pollution Control Committee will create awareness about these rules through media/ publication/ advertisement/ posters.