Ministry of Finance issues Instruction No. 17/2023-Customs regarding the requirement of EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) registration certificate for the import of batteries and equipment containing batteries. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has highlighted the Battery Waste Management (BWM) Rules, 2022, which supersede the earlier Batteries (Management and Handling) Rules, 2001. All producers, including importers, are mandated to obtain registration from CPCB through the online portal. CPCB has requested customs authorities to verify the online-generated EPR registration certificate during the clearance of import consignments of batteries and battery-containing equipment. The concerned officers and trade are urged to be aware of this requirement and ensure compliance. Any difficulties in implementing this instruction should be reported to the Board.
F. No. 401/01/2023-Cus-III
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Revenue
(Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs)
North Block, New Delhi
Instruction No. 17/2023-Custom Dated the 18th May, 2023
To
All Principal Chief Commissioners/ Chief Commissioners
(Customs/ Customs (Preventive)/ Customs and Central Taxes),
All Principal Commissioners / Commissioners (Customs /Customs Preventive)
Pr. Director /Director General under CBIC.
Subject: – Requirement of EPR registration certificate for import of battery as well as equipment containing battery-reg.
Madam/Sir,
Reference is invited to letter No. CP-10730/30/BWMR/WMD-1/2022/7430 dated 23.12.2022 and CP-9772/BWMR/WMD-1/2022/754 dated 01.05.2023 received from the Central Pollution control Board (CPCB), M/o Environment, Forests & Climate Change, New Delhi on the subject mentioned above (copies enclosed).
2. Vide this letter CPCB has drawn attention to Battery Waste Management (BWM) Rules, 2022 issued on 22ndAugust, 2022 (copy enclosed) in supersession to the earlier Batteries (Management and Handling) Rules, 2001. Since the rules are applicable to the importers who are involved in import of all types of Battery regardless of chemistry, shape, volume, weight, material composition and use, all the producers including importers (with few exceptions) are required to get the registration from CPCB through online portal in accordance with BWM Rules, 2022.
3. Further, CPCB has informed that, since 17.03.2023, the online portal of CPCB (eprbatterycpcb.in) is functional for grant of Registration to Producers under BWM Rules, 2022. Accordingly, CPCB has requested to verify the online-generated EPR registration certificate at the time of clearing the consignment of importers of batteries as well as equipment containing batteries. For ease, List of Producers to whom Registration are issued under BWM Rules, 2022 can be viewed on http://www.eprbatterycpcb.in/viewunitcertificates.
4. Accordingly, it is requested that necessary action may be taken to sensitize officers and Trade under your jurisdiction to ensure verification of the registration certificate issued by CPCB at the time of clearing the consignment of importers of batteries.
5. The difficulties, if any, in the implementation of this Instruction may be brought to the notice of the Board.
6. Hindi version follows.
Encl: as above
Yours faithfully,
(Manish Kumar Choudhary)
OSD(Cus.III)
Tele: 011 23094012
Email: manish.irs@gov.in
