The Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2026 have introduced new provisions relating to the mandatory reuse of rigid plastic packaging along with obligations regarding the mandatory use of recycled plastic content in plastic packaging. Further, the Rules provide that every recycled plastic packaging or commodity shall conform to Indian Standard IS 14534:2023. Under the amended guidelines, Producers, Importers, and Brand Owners (PIBOs) are required to ensure the use of recycled plastic in plastic packaging on a category-wise basis as prescribed under the Rules
The targets for mandatory use of recycled plastic in plastic packaging category-wise, as given above, shall not be applicable in cases, where use of recycled plastic in plastic packaging is not permitted, under a law or regulation or rule notified by Central Government or by statutory bodies such as Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation, or the Central Insecticide Board or any mandatory Indian standard, in orce, or any other statutory requirement specified by the Central Government
While claiming exemption under this provision the producer, importer or brand owner shall Submit the applicable law or regulation or rule or a mandatory Indian standard in their annual returns on the centralised Online portal.
The target for use of recycled plastic content, in case of multi-layered plastic packaging (Category III), shall be limited to the weight of plastic layers present in the multi-layered plastic packaging (Category III).
The target for use of recycled plastic content, in case of multi-layered plastic packaging (Category III), shall be limited to the weight of plastic layers present in the multi-layered plastic packaging (Category III).
The minimum obligation for the use of recycled plastic content in plastic packaging is as follows:
- The producer shall ensure use of recycled plastic in plastic packaging category-wise as per the table given below, namely:
| Plastic Packaging Category | Year 2025-2026 | Year 2026-2027 | Year 2027-2028 | Year 2028-2029 onwards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category I | 30% | 40% | 50% | 60% |
| Category II | 10% | 10% | 20% | 20% |
| Category III | 5% | 5% | 10% | 10% |
- The Importer shall ensure use of recycled plastic in plastic packaging category-wise as per the table given below, namely:
| Plastic Packaging Category | Year 2025-2026 | Year 2026-2027 | Year 2027-2028 | Year 2028-2029 onwards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category I | 30% | 40% | 50% | 60% |
| Category II | 10% | 10% | 20% | 20% |
| Category III | 5% | 5% | 10% | 10% |
Note: - Especially in case of importer any recycled plastic used in imported material shall not be counted towards fulfilment of obligation. The importer shall fulfil its obligation of use of recycled content (in quantitative terms) through purchase of certificate of equivalent quantity from such Producers, Importers, and Brand Owners who have used recycled content in excess of their obligation. Central Pollution Control Board will develop mechanism for such exchange on the centralised online portal
- TheBrand owner shall ensure use of recycled plastic in plastic packaging category-wise as per the table given below, namely:
| Plastic Packaging Category | Year 2025-2026 | Year 2026-2027 | Year 2027-2028 | Year 2028-2029 onwards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category I | 30% | 40% | 50% | 60% |
| Category II | 10% | 10% | 20% | 20% |
| Category III | 5% | 5% | 10% | 10% |
However The Brand Owners using Category I (rigid) plastic packaging for their products shall have minimum obligation to reuse such packaging as per the guidelines given in the rules.
Provided that the above target provided in table shall not be applicable in cases where reuse of Category I rigid plastic packaging is not permitted under a law or regulation or rule notified by the Central Government or by statutory bodies, such as Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation, or the Central Insecticide Board or mandatory Indian standard, in force, or any other statutory requirement specified by the Central Government:
The producer, importer and Brand owner is permitted to carry forward the unfulfilled target for mandatory use of recycled plastic content in plastic packaging used in food contact applications for the year 2025-26, for a period of up to three consecutive years starting from 2026-27 over and above the target mandated for those years, while ensuring that a minimum of one third of the unfulfilled carried forward target is fulfilled in each year of that said period, till the complete carried forward unfulfilled target is fulfilled.
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