1. What is Eco Mark Certificate?
An Ecomark may be granted to a product which has a license or a certificate of
conformity of Indian Standards granted under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act,
2016 and/or a mandate of the Quality Control Orders issued by the Central
Government, and fulfils the criteria for grant of Ecomark specified under the
corresponding entries under column (3) of the First Schedule.
(2) Criteria for grant of an Ecomark specified under the First Schedule may include
the following:-
a) Reduces the pollution by minimizing or eliminating the generation of waste
and environmental emissions.
b) Is recyclable or is made from recycled material or both;
c) Reduces the use of non-renewable resources, including non-renewable
energy sources and natural resources;
d) Reduces the use of any material, which has adverse impacts on the
environment;
(3) Developing criteria for grant of Ecomark to a product, the following may be
taken into consideration, namely:-
a) Production process, including source of raw material;
b) Use of natural resources;
c) Environmental impact;
d) Effect and extent of emissions or waste arising from the production process;
e) Disposal of the product and its packaging;
f) Compliance with the Guidelines on Extended Producer Responsibility,
wherever applicable;
g) Utilization of waste and recycled materials;
h) Suitability for recycling; and
i) Use of non-hazardous substances in place of hazardous substances.
2. What will be Procedure for grant of Ecomark?
a) An application for grant of Ecomark for a product which complies with the
conditions under rule 3 shall be made to the Central Pollution Control Board.
b) (2) On receipt of the application, the Central Pollution Control Board shall, by
itself or through a Verifier, verify whether the product complies with the
conditions under rule 3.
c) On receipt of the report, if the Central Pollution Control Board is satisfied
that the product complies with the conditions under rule 3. it may grant
Ecomark to the product.
d) The Ecomark granted under sub-rule (4) shall be valid for a period of three
years or until change in Ecomark criteria for the product, whichever is earlier.
3. What is Cancellation of Ecomark?
a) If the Central Pollution Control Board is satisfied that the holder of an
Ecomark has furnished false information or has wilfully concealed any
information required to be furnished under these rules, it may, after giving
the holder of Ecomark an opportunity to be heard, and by order, for reasons
to be recorded in writing, suspend or cancel the Ecomark.
b) The holder of Ecomark, if aggrieved by an order made under sub-rule (1), may
prefer an appeal to the Central Government in Form 2 within a period of
thirty days from the date of receipt of the order of such suspension or
cancellation.
c) The Central Government may entertain an appeal after the expiry of the said
period of thirty days, if the holder of Ecomark satisfies the Central
Government that he had sufficient cause for not preferring the appeal within
such period.
d) The Central Government after giving the holder of Ecomark an opportunity to
be heard and after such enquiry, as it deems fit, may make such order as it
may consider necessary.
4. What are the Use of Ecomark ?
a) Every person who has been granted an Ecomark in respect of a product shall
affix on such product an Ecomark label granted under these rules.
b) (2)No person shall use the Ecomark on any product unless he has been
granted an Ecomark in respect of such product.
5. What Compliance of products with Ecomark.
a) The Central Pollution Control Board may on its own volition or on a complaint
received by it, inspect and verify by itself or through a registered agency, any
product that has been granted Ecomark for compliance with the conditions
under these rules.
b) The Central Pollution Control Board shall register such agencies, having
relevant expertise and experience for inspection and verification of Ecomark
criteria in respect of each product, as it may consider necessary for the
purposes of these rules.
c) The registered agency shall, upon such inspection and evaluation of the
product, submit its report to the Central Pollution Control Board.
d) The Central Pollution Control Board shall inform the holder of the Ecomark of
any complaints in respect of the product and shall require him to submit his
reply.
e) The holder of Ecomark shall allow the Central Pollution Control Board or the
registered agencies to undertake such inspection and verification as may be
considered necessary for ensuring compliance with the conditions under
these rules.
f) The holder of the Ecomark shall grant access to the premises in which the
product concerned is produced or kept to the Central Pollution Control Board
and the registered agency.
g) Every registered agency shall submit an annual report to the Central Pollution
Control Board on or before the 31st May of every year in respect of the
activities undertaken by it in the previous year.
6. What will be the Validity of the Certificate?
The Ecomark granted under sub-rule (4) shall be valid for a period of three
years or until change in Ecomark criteria for the product, whichever is earlier.