(a) whether the Government has banned the plastic packaging of tobacco
products in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof alongwith the reasons for allowing use
of plastic packaging in the open market even after such ban;
(c) whether there exists any monitoring mechanism to check effectively
the use of plastic packaging in the country; and
(d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor
alongwith the steps taken by the Government in this regard?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS
(SHRIMATI JAYANTHI NATARAJAN)
(a) to (d): Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has notified the Plastic
Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011 (amended on 02.07.2011). Under
these Rules, it is stipulated that sachets using plastic material can not be
used for storing, packing or selling gutkha, tobacco and pan masala. Further,
plastic material, in any form, shall not be used in any package for packing
gutkha, pan masala and tobacco in all forms. Under these Rules, the State
Pollution Control Boards or Pollution Control Committees are responsible for
enforcement of provisions related to registration, manufacture and recycling
and the municipal authorities are responsible for enforcement of provisions
related to use, collection, segregation, transportation and disposal of
plastic waste. Further, the Rules also require municipal authorities to
set up, operationalise and coordinate the waste management system. This
Ministry has requested the State Governments to review the enforcement of
these Rules and take necessary action for putting in place the required
implementation and monitoring arrangements for this purpose.