The Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) on June 08, 2026, issued a notification regarding Draft amendments to the Ecomark Rules, 2024.
The following has been stated:-
•The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has issued a draft notification proposing amendments to the First Schedule of the Ecomark Rules, 2024 under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. The amendments revise the environmental criteria for granting the Ecomark label to products including paints and coatings, batteries, and paper products, with a focus on reducing pollution, hazardous substances, and resource consumption.
•For paints, varnishes, and powder coatings, the draft introduces stringent limits on VOCs, heavy metals, formaldehyde, phthalates, preservatives, PFAS, ozone-depleting substances, and other hazardous chemicals. It also mandates recyclable packaging, use of renewable energy, compliance with EPR obligations, and ISO 14001 certification.
•For batteries, manufacturers must comply with Battery Waste Management Rules, EPR registration requirements, restrictions on hazardous substances, use of recycled lead in lead-acid batteries, improved pollution control systems, energy-efficiency measures, and recycling-focused waste management practices.
•For paper products, the proposed criteria encourage the use of agro-based, certified wood-based, or recycled pulp, require chlorine-free bleaching processes, and impose environmental performance standards on manufacturing operations to promote sustainable paper production.
•The notification has been issued for public consultation, and objections or suggestions may be submitted to the Central Government within 60 days.
The detailed notification is given in the document below.
[Notification No.: G.S.R. 452(E)]
