Lok Sabha Question No. 317 (STARRED), answered on 2023-03-22
Subject: Right to Repair in Promoting Circular Economy
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Sunita Duggal

## Government of India

## Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Department of Consumer Affairs

## LOK  SABHA

STARRED QUESTION NO. *317

TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.03.2023

## RIGHT TO REPAIR IN PROMOTING CIRCULAR ECONOMY

*317. SHRIMATI SUNITA DUGGAL:

Will  the Minister  of CONSUMER  AFFAIRS,  FOOD  AND  PUBLIC  DISTRIBUTION miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) the steps taken by the Government to promote circular economy in consumer products;
- (b) whether the Government acknowledges the role of right to repair in promoting a circular economy in the country, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government plans on bringing some legislation for the 'right to repair' in the country, if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government  has issued relevant guidelines/directives to Original  Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to enforce right to repair for promoting a circular economy; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k ea=h ¼Jh ih;w"k xks;y½

THE MINISTER OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a) to (e)  :   A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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## STATEMENT REFERRED IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*317 FOR 22.03.2023 REGARDING RIGHT TO REPAIR IN PROMOTING CIRCULAR ECONOMY.

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(a)  :    To  promote circular economy, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change through amendments or notifications, has incorporated the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework in the following waste categories of waste, which mandates producers with reuse/recycling/refurbishment targets.

- (i) Plastic  Packaging  through  Plastic  Waste  Management  (Amendment)  Rules,      2022'  on 16.02.2022
- (ii) Battery Waste through Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022 dated 24 th August, 2022
- (iii) Waste  Tyres  through  Hazardous  and  Other  Wastes  (Management  and  Trans  boundary Movement) Amendment Rules, 2022 dated 21.07.2022
- (iv) e-waste  including  Solar  Panel  Waste  through  E-Waste  Management  Rules,  2022  dated 02.11.2022

These EPR guidelines also promote recovery of materials from waste, use of recycled content as well as sustainable design of products thereby promoting circular economy.

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has also developed many standards for promotion and use  of  recycled  products  to  support  circular  economy.  BIS  has  published  Indian  Standards  for promotion  of  green  products  labels, certifications and development  of standards for recycled products  .

In addition, BIS has developed various Indian Standards for recyclable materials such as Plastic Waste, Tyre and Rubber  Recycling,  E-Waste, Refrigerant recovery and/or recycling equipment, and Ferrous and Non-Ferrous  Metals  Scraps etc.

(b)   : The Government appreciates the role of right to repair in promoting circular economy. In line with  the  LiFE  (Lifestyle  for  environment)  movement  launched  by  the  Hon'ble  Prime  Minister,  the Department of Consumer Affairs is working on a 'Right to Repair Portal India' (https://righttorepairindia.gov.in/),  a  Portal  for  empowering  consumers  and  for  on-boarding  of companies / original equipment manufacturers to share repair videos, recognized third party repairers, spare  parts,  warranty/guarantee,  country  of  origin  of  their  product  details  with  customers  so  that consumer can either repair  them  by  self  or  by  third  parties,  rather  than  only  depending  on  original manufacturers. This shall help promote circular economy in the country through a vibrant ecosystem to repair of products.

(c) to (e) : At present, there is no such proposal under consideration by the Department of Consumer Affairs.

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