Rules 1 explained: this guide covers what it means, who it applies to, the step-by-step process, documents required, fees, due dates and penalties in India — so you can stay compliant with confidence and avoid costly mistakes.
Rules 1 to 3 open the Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022. They say the Rules apply to all types of batteries whatever their chemistry, shape or use, exclude military and space equipment, and define the roles and the four types of battery on which the targets in Schedule II are built. Two definitions, "battery" and "producer", were changed in October 2023.
These Rules are current as amended up to S.O. 958(E) dated 24 February 2025. Later amendments, CPCB guidelines and notifications should be checked. If you make, import, assemble or sell batteries, or products containing them, and need to know your role, our compliance advisory team can place you in the right category.
The Rules apply to producers, dealers, consumers and entities that collect, segregate, transport, refurbish or recycle waste batteries, and to all batteries regardless of chemistry, shape, volume, weight, material or use (rule 2(1)). Batteries in military and space equipment are excluded (rule 2(2)). A producer includes anyone who sells batteries or equipment containing them under its own brand, imports them, or assembles batteries for a branded seller (rule 3(1)(u), as amended in 2023).
Rule 1: title and commencement
The Rules are the Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022, notified by S.O. 3984(E) on 22 August 2022 and in force on publication in the Official Gazette. They supersede the Batteries (Management and Handling) Rules, 2001, except for things done or omitted before the supersession.
Rule 2: application and exclusions
Applies to (rule 2(1)):
- producers, dealers, consumers and entities involved in collection, segregation, transportation, refurbishment and recycling of waste batteries; and
- all types of batteries regardless of chemistry, shape, volume, weight, material composition and use.
Does not apply (rule 2(2)) to batteries used in equipment connected with the protection of essential security interests, including arms, ammunition, war material and those intended specifically for military purposes, and to equipment designed to be sent into space.
Rule 3: the definitions
Roles
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| "producer" (u) | An entity engaged in (i) manufacture and sale of batteries, including refurbished batteries and batteries in equipment, under its own brand; (ii) sale under its own brand of such batteries produced by other manufacturers or suppliers; (iii) import of batteries or equipment containing batteries; or (iv) manufacture or assembling of batteries or refurbished batteries, including in equipment, for sale to a producer under (ii) without its own brand name |
| "manufacturer" (s) | A person, entity or company (as in the Companies Act, 2013) or a factory (as in the Factories Act, 1948) with facilities for manufacturing batteries or their components |
| "consumer" (h) | The end user of a battery |
| "refurbisher" (y) | An entity engaged in refurbishment, meaning repairing, re-conditioning or re-purposing of used batteries for a second life (x) |
| "recycler" (w) | An entity engaged in recycling of waste battery |
| "public waste management authorities" (v) | Village Panchayat, Municipal Corporation, Municipality and agencies engaged on their behalf |
Clause (iv) of the producer definition was inserted in 2023 (S.O. 4669(E)): a contract assembler that makes batteries for a branded seller without its own brand is itself a producer, in addition to the brand owner.
Battery types
| Type | Meaning |
|---|---|
| "automotive battery" (b) | Any battery used only for automotive starter, lighting or ignition power |
| "portable battery" (t) | A battery that is sealed, less than five kilograms, not made for industrial purposes, electric vehicle or automotive use |
| "industrial battery" (r) | Any battery designed for industrial uses, excluding portable, electric vehicle and automotive batteries; may include sealed batteries, unsealed batteries (excluding automotive) and energy storage system batteries |
| "electric vehicle battery" (j) | Any battery specifically designed to provide traction to hybrid and electric vehicles for road transport |
Other key terms
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| "battery" (c) | New or refurbished cell or battery, including an accumulator, which is any source of electrical energy generated by direct conversion of chemical energy, and includes a disposable primary or secondary battery (as substituted in 2023) |
| "battery pack" (d) | Any set or module of cells or batteries connected or encapsulated within an outer casing as a complete unit that the end user is not intended to split up or open |
| "waste battery" (ze) | Used or end of life batteries and their components, spares, parts or consumables, whether or not hazardous; pre-consumer off-spec batteries; batteries whose date for appropriate use has expired; and batteries discarded by the user |
| "end of life battery" (k) | A battery that has been used, has completed its intended use and is not meant for refurbishment |
| "used battery" (zd) | A battery or its components that have been used and have residual life and are suitable for refurbishment |
| "extended producer responsibility" (m) | The responsibility of any producer of a battery for environmentally sound management of waste battery |
| "EPR registration" (n) | A registration by the CPCB of a producer for EPR |
| "disposal" (i) | Any operation that does not lead to reuse, recovery, refurbishing or recycling |
| "hazardous waste" (q) | As defined in the Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016 |
Words not defined carry the meaning in the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (rule 3(2)). For hazardous waste, see our HOWM series.
Why the type matters
Schedule II sets targets by battery type, and rule 4(14) sets the minimum use of recycled materials by type. A battery that falls in two types, for example a sealed industrial unit under five kilograms, must be tested against the exact words of each definition, because "portable" excludes batteries made for industrial purposes and "industrial" excludes portable ones. The targets are explained in rules 13 to 15 and the Schedules and rule 4.
Who is affected
Battery makers and importers, brand owners selling batteries or battery-bearing equipment such as laptops, power tools and vehicles, contract assemblers, refurbishers, recyclers, collection agents, municipalities, panchayats and consumers.
Example
Voltix Mobility Private Limited sells electric scooters under its own brand, using battery packs assembled by Cellcraft Assemblers, which supplies several brands without a brand of its own. Voltix is a producer under limb (i) or (ii) of the definition, and because it imports some chargers with batteries, also under (iii). Cellcraft is a producer under limb (iv), added in 2023. Both must look at registration and targets for electric vehicle batteries.
Need help placing your business under the Battery Rules?
The definitions decide who carries the EPR and for which battery type. Our compliance advisory team can help you map each product to a battery type and each business line to a role.
Key takeaways
- The Rules cover all batteries regardless of chemistry or use, except military and space equipment.
- A producer includes brand owners, importers and, since 2023, contract assemblers who supply a branded seller.
- Four battery types, portable, automotive, industrial and electric vehicle, drive targets and recycled-content obligations.
- Waste battery includes pre-consumer off-spec batteries and expired batteries.
- The rules on refurbishment treat used batteries with residual life separately from end of life batteries.
Read next
- Rule 4: producer EPR, collection targets and recycled content
- Rules 5 to 9: consumers, authorities, refurbishers and recyclers
- E-Waste and Battery Waste Rules: amendments 2023 to 2025
- Licenses and registrations required for a battery business
Disclaimer: Based on the environment rules, guidelines and notifications named above as published in the Gazette of India, read with every amendment notified up to 3 October 2026 that the article names (consolidated reading texts from the CPCB 2021 compilation and the Goa State Pollution Control Board 2025 compilation were checked against the amending notifications), as consulted on 3 October 2026. Later amendments, CPCB guidelines, State Board orders and fees should be checked. This article is general information, not legal advice; check the official text before acting.