(a) whether dangerous items like PVC, Zinc ash, Zinc residual/scrap, lead residual, lead ash/scrap and batteries are being imported;
(b) if so, the details thereof alongwith the reasons therefor;
(c) whether steps have been taken to ban such imports;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) if not, the reasons therefor?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY ( SHRI E.V.K.S. ELANGOVAN)
(a) & (b): The details of import of PVC, Zinc ash, Zinc residual/scrap, lead residual, lead ash/scrap and batteries for the last three years are annexed.
According to the Hazardous Wastes( Management and Handling) Rules, 1989 and further amended in 2000 and 2003, imports of certain wastes are permitted only for reprocessing and reuse by units registered with Central Pollution Control Board. These wastes are specified in schedule 3 under List A and List B of the Hazardous Waste(HW) rules. The import of such wastes into the country are permitted by the Government in accordance with Rules 12, 13 and 14 of the HW Rules and by DGFT through the Foreign Trade Policy. Import of only new lead acid batteries are permitted as per the Batteries( Management & Handling ) Rules, 2001.
(c) to (e): The Government has taken steps to restrict the import of wastes by notifying the Hazardous Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules 1989 and further amended in 2000 and 2003 and the Batteries(Management and Handling) Rules, 2001. Twenty nine highly hazardous wastes listed in schedule 8 of the HW Rules are totally prohibited for imports even for the purpose of recycling.
Annexure
HSCode Commodity Unit of Qty 2004-05
Qty Value in Rs. Lakhs
390410 POLY (VINYL CHLORIDE), NOT MIXED WITH OTHR Kg 50268.27 20187.94 790200 ZINC WASTE AND SCRAP Kg 37523.44 10112.02 262019 OTHER ASH & RESIDUE CONTNG MAINLY ZINC Kg 2749.15 4454.95 780200 LEAD WASTE & SCRAP Kg 17530.31 4382.22 850610 PRIMARY CELLS & PRIMARY BATTERIES OF MANGANESE DIOXIDEOF AN EXTRNL VOLUME Total 50762.75