(a) the details of the laws and norms for off-loading of scraps in the country;
(b) whether some incidents of violation of the said laws and norms have been reported in the country and if so, the details thereof during each of the last three years,port and State-wise;
(c) the details of action taken against the violators; and
(d) the steps taken to ensure compliance of the said laws/norms?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)
(a) The import of metal scrap is regulated under Hazardous Waste (Management, Handling & Transboundary Movement) Rule, 2008, and provisions as laid down in paras 2.54 and 2.57 of Foreign Trade Policy and Handbook of Procedure.
(b)&(c) As per Hazardous Waste (Management, Handling & Transboundary Movement) Rule, 2008, import of metal scrap in violation of the provisions of the Rules are dealt in accordance with Rule 17. The Ministry has not received any report on violation of the Rules from Custom authorities in so far as the import of metal scrap is concerned during last three years. However, Custom authorities have initiated an investigation against Pre-Shipment Inspection Agencies (PSIAs) for certain alleged irregularities.
(d) As per Schedule VII of Hazardous Waste (Management, Handling & Transboundary Movement) Rule, 2008, State Pollution Control Boards are vested with the responsibility of monitoring and ensuring compliance. To ensure better implementation of management of hazardous waste, Ministry had published draft Hazardous and Other Waste (Management & Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2015 with an aim to simplify and decentralize the management and import procedures of the specified wastes. Under the proposed rules, the user industry intending to use hazardous waste for recycling, recovery or for utilization either through domestic procurement or through import will be required to take only permission. Import of various categories of waste such as metal scrap and used electrical and electronic equipment for re-use purpose are being exempted from the need of taking permission from the Ministry by including them in separate Schedule III D. The proposed amendment prohibits the import of household wastes, solid plastic waste, waste electronic assembly scraps, used tyres for direct reuse, critical care medical equipment, and biomedical waste.
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