By : Aishwarya Dhananjay Deshpande
INTRODUCTION :
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (“MoEFCC”) introduced the Ecomark Rules, 2024 (“Rules”), a significant initiative aimed at fostering sustainable consumption and production in India. The overarching goal of these Rules is to promote eco friendly and green industries in the path to a sustainable future. The Rules establish a framework for manufactures to label certain products as ‘Ecomark’, which empowers the consumers to make informed decisions and encourages the manufacturers to shift to more eco-friendly practises.
- CORE ELEMENTS OF THE ECOMARK RULES:
- The Ecomark will be granted under the criteria laid down by Rule 3 that includes the possession of a license or a certificate under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016, or such marks can be granted on the compliance with Quality Control Orders issued by the Central Government.
- Other Elements required for the grant of Ecomark:
- Reduce the pollution by controlling waste generation
- Made from recyclable material.
- Reduce the usage of non-renewable resources
- Reduce the usage of any such other material that is harmful to the environment
- According to Rule 4 of Ecomark Rules 2024, the application of Ecomark shall be made to the Central Pollution Control Board in Form 1 (as provided under Schedule 2 of the Rules) and after the verification is completed by a verifier under Rule 12, the Ecomark will be granted. An Ecomark on a product will be va lid for a period of three (3) years or until there is any change made in the Ecomarked product.
- An annual report of the Ecomark product is to be submitted to the Central Pollution Control Board (“CPCB”) via the web portal by 31st May each year. This report should cover the period from 1st April of the previous year to 31st March of the current year and must adhere to the prescribed format provided by the CPCB. The CPCB will review the reports and give any recommendations to the MoECC by 31st July every year.
- The CPCB will publish the details of each holder of Ecomark and the product including the list of products which have been granted Ecomark, a report in respect of each product based on which the Ecomark was granted and the benefits of product.
- The CPCB under the Rules has various functions to perform which includes the identification and recommendation to the Steering Committee established under Rule 8; having a purpose to review and develop the criteria for grant of Ecomark, based on the knowledge available, to make a record of technological and market developments, and the criteria being followed in other countries and develop initiatives for consideration of the Steering Committee to incentivize adoption of Ecomark etc.
- The First Schedule, in conjunction with Rules 2(d) and 3(1)(f), outlines the products eligible for Ecomark certification along with the criteria for its grant. It details both general requirements that all products must meet, such as energy efficiency and recyclability, and special requirements tailored to specific product categories, ensuring that each product complies with established environmental and sustainability standards. This comprehensive framework facilitates the assessment and certification process for environmentally friendly products.
CONCLUSION:
The Ecomark Rules, 2024, which came into force on 26th September 2024 mark a significant change for eco-labelling in India. The Rules set a refined criteria for environmentally friendly products including a well framed set of rules for certification, the Rules notified by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) set an aim to drive a significant shift towards sustainable consumption and production. As consumers become more environmentally conscious due to changing conditions, the Ecomark will play a pivotal role in shaping market dynamics, fostering innovation, and contributing to a greener future for India.
[i] Ecomark Rules 2024, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change vide notification G.S.R. 596(E) <https://egazette.gov.in/WriteReadData/2024/257609.pdf >
