Gove bans Import of Second Hand Computers

There is a ban on import of second hand computers and computer peripherals now. As per Ministry of Commerce’s Handbook of Procedures Vol. 1 (2009-14), import of second hand computers including personal computers/ laptops and refurbished/reconditioned spares is restricted. Earlier, the import of second hand computers including personal computers/laptops and computer peripherals including printers, plotter, scanner, monitor, keyboard and storage units as donations by certain categories of donees was freely permitted but as per the Directorate General Foreign Trade (DGFT) Public Notice dated 13.5.2010, this provision has been deleted.

Based on a survey carried out by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), it is estimated that 1.47 lakh MT of e-waste was generated in the country in the year 2005, which is expected to increase to about 8.0 lakh MT by 2012. Authorized and registered e-waste recyclers in the country have the capacity to handle about 95,500MTA of e-waste.

The Ministry of Environment and Forests has notified the Hazardous Wastes (Management, Handling and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2008, for proper management and handling of hazardous wastes including e-waste. As per these Rules, waste generated is required to be sent or sold to the authorized registered recycler or re-processor or re-user having environmentally sound facilities. E-waste recycling is permitted only in facilities registered with the concerned State Pollution Control Board.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Environment and Forests (independent charge) Shri Jairam Ramesh in a written reply to a question by Shrimati Shobhana Bharatia in Rajya Sabha today.