Lok Sabha Question No. 2100 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-08-05
Subject: Ecomark Scheme
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Haribhai Patel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2100

TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.08.2024

## Ecomark Scheme

## 2100.  SHRI HARIBHAI PATEL:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is successful in its attempt to raise consumer awareness of environmental issues, encourage eco-conscious choices, and motivate manufacturers to transition to eco-friendly production, as envisaged under the Ecomark Scheme;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the budgetary allocation for the said Scheme; and
- (c) whether the Government has assessed the impact of the Ecomark Scheme on consumer behaviour and environmental sustainability?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

- (a) to  (c).  Ministry  of  Environment  and  Forest  had  launched  a  scheme  on  labelling  of environment friendly  products,  namely,  'ECOMARK'  vide  G.S.R.  85(E)  dated  21 st February 1991 (Annexure - I), which aims to provide accreditation and labelling for household  and  other  consumer  products  which  meet  certain  environmental  criteria along with quality requirements of the Indian Standards for that product.

Ecomark  Scheme  is  administered  by  Bureau  of  Indian  Standards  (BIS)  which  is responsible for award, renewal, suspension and cancellation of the Ecomark label, and inspection of any material or substance in relation to which the Ecomark has been used.

Producer/manufacturer seek Ecomark labelling for its  product from BIS, as per due procedure.

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## EXTRAORDINARY

PART II-Section 3-Sub-section  (i)

PUBLISHED BY  AUTHORITY

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15 Ta7, 1991

[23/1/91-4m]

## MINISTRY  O O F ENVIRONMENT  AND  FORESTS

## (Department  of  Environment,  Forests  & Wildlife) RESOLUTION

New  Delhi,  the  20th  February,  1991

G.S.R.  85(E).-(1)  The  Government  have  decided to  institute  a  Scheme  on Labelling  of  Environment Friendly  Products.  The  scheme  will  operate  on  a  national  basis  and  provide  accredition  and  labelling  for household  and  other  consumer  products  which  meet certain  environmental  criteria  along  with  quality  requirements  of  the  (Tndian  Standards  for that product.  The  Label  shall be known  as the  "ECOMARK"  and  will  be  of  the  design  to  be  notified.

Any  product  which  is made,  used  or  disposed  of  In a  way  that  significantly reduces  the harm  it  would otherwise  cause  the  environment  could  be  considered as Environment  Friendly  Product-

## (2) Objectives  of  the  Scheme  :

The specific objectives  of the scheme  are  as follows:-

- (1)  To provide an incentive for manufacturers  and importers  to  reduce  adverse  environmental impact of  products.
2. (ii)  To  reward  genuine  initiatives  by  companies to  reduce  adverse  environmental  impact  or' their products.
3. $H)  To  assist  consumers  to  become  environmentally  responsible  in  their  da'lv  lives  bv (providing  information to  take  account  of  environmental  factors in  their  purchase  decisions.
4. ( T f v )  To  encourage  citizens  to  purchase  products wTi'ch  have  less  harmful  environmental  impacts.
5. (v)  Ultimately  to  improve  the  quality  of  the  environment  and  to  encourage  the  sustainable management  of  resources.

## (3) Administrative  and  Organisational  Structure-

There  will  be  three  stages  leading  to  the  award  o f f the  "ECOMARK":-

1.  A  steering  committee,  set  up  in  the  Ministry  o f i Environment and  Forests,  to  determine  the  product categories  for  coverage under  the  scheme  and  also formulate strategies for promotion,  implementation, future  development  and  improvements  in  the  working of the  scheme.
2.  A  technical committee,  set  up  in  the  Central Pollution  Control  Board,  to  identify  the  specific  product  to  be  selected  and  the  individual  criteria  to  be adopted,  including,  wherever  possible,  inter-se  priority between  the  criteria  if  there  be  more  than  one.
3.  The  Bureau  of  Indian Standards  to  assess  and certify  the  products  and  draw  up  a  contract  with  tho manufactures,  allowing  the  use  of  the  label,  on  payment  of a fee.

## 3.1.1 Steering  Committee:

A Steering Committee shall be set up in the Ministry of  Environment  and  Forests  by  the  Central  Government  to  decide  the  product  categories  to  be  taken  up under  the  scheme,  and  to  formulate  the  strategies  fof promotion,  future development  and  improvement  of this  scheme.  The  product  categories  will  be  notified from  time  to  time.

The  functions  of  the  Steering  Committee  shall  bo as follows:-

- (a)  Selection  of  the  logo  for  the  "ECOMARK".
- (b)  Activities  related  to  creation  of  mass  awareness  for  promotion  and  acceptance  of  the scheme.
- (c)  Determining  the product  category  to be  taken up  under  the  scheme.
- (d)  Co-ordinating  ways  of  ensuring that  industry is  actively  involved  in  the  scheme.
- (e)  Securing  the  involvement  of  other  Ministries, Government  Departments,  Industry  Associations  and  other  Non-Governmental  Organisations  and  Consumer organisations.
- (f)  Formulation  of  strategies  for  future  development  of  the  scheme.
- (g)  Identifying institutions  in  India  or  outside which  are  engaged  in  the  standardization  of any  article  or process  or  imnrovement  of quality  of  anv article  or  process  and  recommending  assistance to build  consumer awareness.
- (h)  Promntinq  nrOGrammes of  Comraritive  Testine  of  nrodnct^  bv  Ponsnmfr Organisations and  dissemination  their results to the general public.

- (i)  Supporting  any  research  for  the  formulation of  ECOMARK  products  in  the  interests  of Consumer  groups.

The  composition  of  the Committee shall  be  as follows:-·

- (i)  Secretary,  Deptt.  of  Environment  & Forests. Chairman
- (ii) Secretary,  Deptt.  of  Civil  Supplies,  (or  his representative). Member
- (iii)  Secretary,  Ministry  of Industry, (or  his  representative) . Member
- (iv)  Secretary,  Ministry  of Chemicals  & Petrochemicals  (or  his  representative). Member
- (v)  Secretary,  Ministry  of  Agriculture  (or  his  representative) . Member
- (vi)  Secretary,  Ministry  of  Information  & Broadcasting  (or  his  representative). Member
- (vii)  Director  General  of  Technical  Development (or  his  representative). Member
- (viii)  Director  General, Council  of  Scientific  & Industrial  Research,  (or  his  representative). Member
- (ix)  Director  General, Health  Services  (or  his representative). Member
- (x)  Development Commissioner, Small  Scale Industries  (or  his  representative). Member
- (xi)  Chairman,  Central  Pollution  Control  Board Member
- (xii) Not  more  than  five  non  officials,  to  be  nominated  by  the  Central  Government;  to  represent  the  interests  of  industry,  consumer groups  or  other  non  governmental  organisations; of  which  at  least  two  will  represent Consumer  groups.
- (xiii) Officer in charge,  "ECOMARK"  in the Ministry of Environment & Forests. Member-Secy.

In  case  of  special  requirement  of  expertise in  specific fields, the  committee  may  invite  experts  as  special invitees.

The terms of the Committee shall be for three years or until reconstituted.

## 3.1.2  Technical  Committee

A  Technical  Committee  shall  be  constituted  by  the Central  Government  to  identify the individual  products  and  determine the criteria  for  awarding  the ECOMARK.  The  Committee  shall  function in  the Central Pollution  Control  Board, New  Delhi.

The following  shall be  the functions  for  the Technical  Committee:-

- (i) Identification of  specific  products  for  classifying  as  environment  friendly.
- (ii)  Reviewing  the existing  state  of  knowledge and  the  environmental  criteria  being  followed  in  other  countries.
- (iii)  Recommend  the  most appropriate  criteria and parameters  to designate various products as  environment  friendly,  including  the  most important  criteria or individual products that  have been  specified  for  the purpose  and their  inter-se  priority,  whenever  possible.
- (iv)  Review  the  various technologies  available for  determining  the  criteria.
- (v)  Recommend  various laboratories  and analysts  for  product  assessment  to  the  Ministry of  Environment  and  Forests,
- (vi)  Evaluation  of  the  environmental  impact  of the  products  and  criteria  from  time to  time.
- (vii)  To  review from  time to time, the implementation  of  the  schemes  by the Bureau  of Indian  Standards  (BIS),  including  the  sample  inspections  done  by  it.
- (viii)  Set  up sub-committees  for each product category  if  so  required,  including  formula-^  tion of test programmes  for  comparative testing  of  products  by  consumer organisations.
- fix)  TThe technical  committee  may  set  up  expert panels  to  advise  it  for  specific  products.

The  composition  of  the  Committee  shall  be  :-

- G)  Chirman, Central  Pollution Control  Board. Chaarman
2. (ii) Director  General,  Bureau  of Indian Standards, New Delhi. Member
3. (iii)  Director,  National  Environmental  Engineering  Research  Institute,  Nagpur. Member
4. (iv)  Director, National Chemical Laboratory, Pune. Member
5. (v)  Director General, National Test House Calcutta. Member
6. (vi) Director, Industrial  Toxicology Research Institute,  Lucknow. Member
7. (vii)  Director,  National  Institute  of  Occupational Health,  Ahmcdabad Member
8. (viii)  Note  more  than  five  non-officials  to  represent  the interest  of  industry  & consumer groups,  of  which  atleast  three  will  represent the  Consumer  groups  be  nominated  by  the Central  Government.
9. (ix)  Officer  in  charge,  (Eco-Mark  scheme)  Central Pollution Control Board. Member-Secy.

The  Committee  may  co-opt experts  on different products,  as  special  invitees.

The  terms  of the  Committee  shall  be  for three years  or  until  reconstituted.

## 3.1.3 Administration

The Bureau  of  Indian  Standard*  (BTS)  shall implement  the  scheme.

Following  shall  be  the  functions  of  the  BIS:

- (1)  Assess  the  product  for Ecomark,  certify the product  for  award  of  the  Ecomark;

- (2)  Review suspend  or  cancel  a  licence, for  the use of  the  Ecomark;
- (3)  Mark  inspections,  and  toke  such  samples  for anaysis of  any material or  substances  as may be necessary  to  see  whether  any  article  or  product  in  relation to  which  the  Ecomark  has  been  used,  conforms  to the  contract  or  whether  the Ecomark  is  improperly used  in  relation  to  any article  or process  With  or without a  licence;

## (4) Certification and  Licensing:

- 4.1 Under the scheme the manufacturers  shall apply for  testing  and  certification of products,  which  fail under  the  notified  categories  in  terms  of  their  compliance  with  published environmental  criteria  in  the prescribed  form.  The  terms  and  conditions  governing operations  of  the  licences  including  fees  shall  be  as per  the  Bureau  of  Indian  Standards  Act  and  the  regulations, framed  there  under.
- 4.2  Testing  and  certification  shall  be  carried  out  by the  Bureau  of  Indian  Standards.  (For  product  categories  which  have  the Indian  Standards  mark,  the Bureau  of  Indian  Standards,  will  ordinarily  complete the  task  of  certification within  a period  of three months.  Products certified as eligible for the ECOMARK  shall  be licenced  to  carry  the  ECOMARK  for  a  prescribed  time  period.
- 4.3  The  product  shall  be  reassessed  after  the  prescribed  period and  the  licence  fee  shall  have  to  be paid again  for  the  mark.

## 5.  The  Criteria  for  Ecomark:

Enviromnental criteria  for each  product category will be  notified  by  the  Central  Government  and  later on  shall  be  translated  into  Indian  Standards  by  the Bureau  of  (Indian  Standards.  The  criteria  shall  be  for broad  environmental  levels  and  aspects,  but  will  be specific  at  the  product  level.  Products  will be  examined  in  terms  of  the  following  main  environmental  im- pacts :-

- (a)  That  they  have substantially  less  potential for pollution  than other comparable  products  in  production, usage  and  disposal.
- (b)  That they  are recycled,  recyclable,  made from  recycled products  or  biodegradable, where  comparable  products  are  not.
- (c)  That  they make  significant contribution to saving  non-renewable resources,  including non  renewable energy  sources  and natural resources,  compared  with  comparable  products.
- (d) That  the  product  must  contribute  to  a  reduction  of the adverse primajy-criteria  which has  the  highest  environmental-impact  associated with the use of the product,  and whigh

will  be  specifically  set  for  each  of  the  product  categories.

(In  determining  the  primary  criteria  for  a  product the  following  shall  be  taken  into  account:-

- (a)  Production process  including  source  of  raw materials;
- (b)  Case  of  Natural  Resources;
- (c) Likely  impact  on  the  environment;
- (d) Energy conservation  in the production  of  the product;
- (e)  Effect  & extent of  waste  arising  from  the production process;
- (f)  Disposal  of  the  product  and  its  container;
- (g) Utilization of  "Waste"  and recycled  mate-
- rials;
- (h)  Suitability  for  recycling  or  packaging

( · i )  Biodegradability; The  criteria  shall  be  reviewed  from  time  to  time. The  draft criteria  shall  be release  for  public  comments  for  a  period  of  sixty  days.

## 6.  Period  of  Award  :

The  label  shall  be  awarded  for  a^ssnbnum  period of  one  year  and  shall roll  forward annually.  The Bureau  of  Indian  Standards  have  the  powers to  withdraw the licence  at  any time if  they find any  misleading  information.  The  award  may  also  be  withdrawn in  case  of  any  change  in  criteria  due to  the  advancement of  technology  or any  other valid  reasons, in consultation  with  the technical  committee. The time period  of  the  award may  be  reviewed  from  time  to time.

## 7.  The  Logo  :

The Logo for  the "ECOMARK"  shall be as  notified by  the  Central  Government.

## 8.  Consumer  Awareness  :

The  Ministry  of  Environment  & Forests  shall  take appropriate  measures  to  launch  a  country  wide  mass awareness  campaign,  including  encouraging  consumer groups. Assistance will be given to consumer  organisations for  comperative  testing  of  products  and dissemination  of  information to  the  public.

## ORDER

Ordered  that  the Resolution  be  published  in  the Gazette  of  India  and  a  copy  there  of  communicated

[No.  23[1|91-PL]

MUKUL  SANWAL,  Jt.  Secy.

to all  concerned.

15th  February,  1991