Question asked in Rajya Sabha on 25/02/2009 by Shobhana Bhartia
Relevant to Commerce and Industry
Subject: Ban on Chinese Toys
Q: Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY be pleased to state:-
(a) whether China has threatened to drag India to World Trade Organization (WTO) if restrictions/ban imposed by the Indian Government on import of toys is not lifted;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government is aware that China is dispatching toys into the Indian markets through a third country;
(d) if so, whether the Government propose to plug the loopholes in the rules ensure ban on Chinese toys; and
(e) if so, the details thereof?
A: Answered by Jairam Ramesh
*a) & (b) Ambassador of Peoples Republic of China to India has expressed the concern of their Government regarding the ban on import of Chinese toys for six months with effect from 23.01.2009.
(c) to (e) Vide Policy circular No.58 (RE-2008)/2004-09 dated 6.02.2009, it has been clarified by the Government that prohibition on import of toys from China shall be applicable on all toys which have originated from china, irrespective of the country of import.
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Question asked in Rajya Sabha on 25/02/2009 by Renubala Pradhan
Relevant to Commerce and Industry
Subject: Import of Plastic Scrap
Q: Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY be pleased to state: –
(a) whether Government proposes to allow import of plastic scrap to help the industry in the global market;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the details of action plan of Government to ensure that this does not become a dumping ground for plastic waste which might contain toxic wastes?
A: Answered by Jairam Ramesh
(a) to (c) Import of plastic waste, scrap and parings, except PET bottle scrap, is restricted for imports. There is no proposal under consideration of the Government to remove the import restrictions on these items.
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09/12/2005
Question asked in RAJYA SABHA on 09/12/2005 by SHRIMATI BIMBA RAIKAR
Relevant to ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS
Subject: Plastic Waste
Q: Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS be pleased to state:-
(a) whether India generates around 7250 tones of plastic waste including pet bottles, snack / gutka pouches, etc. every day;
(b) whether 60 per cent of this plastic waste is recycled INTO inferior products which are hazardous to health;
(c) whether the rest 40 per cent is tossed around to choke sewers and environment; and
(d) whether Government would enact an uniform law for use of bio-degradable plastics?
A: Answered by SHRI NAMO NARAIN MEENA of Ministry of Environment and Forests
*(a) As per the Manual on Solid Waste Management brought out by the Ministry of Urban Development in the year 2000, plastic waste generated in the country is around 5000 tones per day.
(c) Plastics in general are chemically inert substances. They are `per se` not harmful to the environment, except the indiscriminate littering of the plastic material along with other garbage and the absence of its organized segregation.
(d) Bio-degradable Plastics is still in its nascent state. Its development and usage in the developed countries also is limited. A uniform law for the use of bio-degradable plastics is not under consideration of the Government at present.
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Question asked in Rajya Sabha on 13/05/2005 by SHRI NABAM REBIA, SHRIMATI PRABHA THAKUR
Relevant to ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS
Subject: Production and Import of Plastic and Polythene
Q: Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS be pleased to state:-
(a) whether Government is aware that production and import of plastic and polythene has gone up considerably in the recent years;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether Government is also aware that use of plastic and polythene is harmful to human health;
(d) if so, whether Government propose to impose ban on production and import of those items; and
(e) if so, the details thereof and the steps proposed to be taken to save the people FROM ill effects of these items?
A: Answered by SHRI NAMO NARAIN MEENA of Ministry of Environment and Forests
(a) & (b) As per the available information the production and imports of Polymers and Performance plastics in
Year Production Imports
(in 000` MT)
1. 2001-2002 4064 423
2. 2002-2003 4270 386
3. 2003-2004 4598 493
4. 2004-2005 4807 not available
(c) The use of polythene and other plastics for food, pharmaceutical and potable water packaging are governed by relevant specifications of the Bureau of Indian Standards. Only the indiscriminate disposal of plastics may cause adverse impacts on environment including human health.
(d) & (e) At present there is no proposal with the Government to ban production and import of plastic and polythene. The Government has brought out the Recycled Plastics Manufacture and Usage Rules, 1999 (vide S. 0. 705 (F-) dated 2nd September 1999) as amended in 2003 (vide S. O No. 698 (E) dated 17th June 2003), for regulation of plastic wastes. As per these rules, the use of recycled plastic bags for storing, carrying, dispensing, or packaging of foodstuffs is prohibited. Further, the Ministry has banned the manufacture, stocking, distribution or selling of carry bags made of virgin / recycled plastics, which are below 8 x 12 inches in size and 20 microns in thickness. To enforce strict compliance of these rules registration of plastic carry bag manufacturing units with the State Pollution Control Boards/Pollution Control Committees has also been made mandatory.
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source: http://www.toxicslink.org/ovrvw-int.php?prognum=3&intnum=10&area=3
Answers on request to Toxics Link.