The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has mandated that all plastic importers must register for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) prior to customs clearance, thereby broadening the definition of plastic as per waste management regulations.
In its Instruction No. 21/2025-Customs, dated July 2, 2025, the CBIC has made it compulsory for all importers of plastic raw materials to register on the Centralized Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Portal for Plastic Packaging before they can clear customs.
According to Section 6 of the EPR Guidelines, all importers are required to be registered on the EPR Plastic Portal to enhance traceability and accountability in the management of plastic waste. The CBIC has directed customs officials throughout India to verify the proof of EPR registration prior to the clearance of consignments containing plastic raw materials.
Consequently, importers must complete their EPR registration before their imports can be cleared by customs, and customs officials are required to check for EPR compliance at ports, airports, and land borders. In straightforward terms, any importer bringing plastic resins, pellets, films, or any type of plastic packaging material into India must now be registered on the EPR Portal; otherwise, their shipments will not be allowed to clear customs.
This initiative is designed to prevent untraceable plastic from entering the country’s consumption channels and to ensure that producers are held responsible for the plastic waste generated within India. Additionally, the CBIC has instructed customs field formations to educate officers within their jurisdictions to facilitate the smooth and consistent enforcement of this requirement. Any challenges encountered during implementation should be reported back to the Board for resolution.