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 E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022. They fix the commencement date, say which entities and which equipment the Rules cover, name four exclusions, and define the roles that carry extended producer responsibility. Rule 3(f) on dismantlers was substituted in 2024.
These Rules are current as amended up to the E-Waste (Management) Second Amendment Rules, 2024 (G.S.R. 699(E), 12 November 2024). Later amendments, CPCB guidelines and notifications should be checked. If you make, import, refurbish or recycle electrical and electronic equipment and want to know where you stand, our compliance advisory team can place you in the right category.
The Rules came into force on 1 April 2023 (rule 1). They apply to every manufacturer, producer, refurbisher, dismantler and recycler dealing with electrical and electronic equipment listed in Schedule I and its components, consumables, parts and spares, but not to waste batteries, packaging plastics, micro enterprises and radio-active wastes (rule 2). A producer includes anyone who sells under its own brand, sells imported equipment or imports used equipment, whatever the selling technique (rule 3(1)(t)).
Rule 1: title and commencement
The Rules are the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022, made under sections 6, 8 and 25 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and notified by G.S.R. 801(E) of 2 November 2022. They came into force on 1 April 2023, and supersede the E-waste (Management) Rules, 2016, save for things done or omitted before the supersession.
Rule 2: application and exclusions
The Rules apply to every manufacturer, producer, refurbisher, dismantler and recycler involved in manufacture, sale, transfer, purchase, refurbishing, dismantling, recycling and processing of e-waste or electrical and electronic equipment listed in Schedule I, including their components, consumables, parts and spares which make the product operational. They do not apply to:
| Clause | Excluded |
|---|---|
| (a) | Waste batteries covered by the Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022 |
| (b) | Packaging plastics covered by the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 |
| (c) | A micro enterprise as defined in the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Act, 2006 |
| (d) | Radio-active wastes covered by the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 and the rules under it |
The two cross-references are explained in our battery series and our plastic series.
Schedule I: the equipment covered
Schedule I lists categories of electrical and electronic equipment, each with a code. It has seven groups:
| Group | Category | Examples as printed |
|---|---|---|
| (i) | Information technology and telecommunication equipment (codes ITEW1 to ITEW27) | Mainframes, personal computers, laptops, printers, telephones, cellular telephones, routers, UPS, inverters, modems, data storage devices |
| (ii) | Consumer electrical and electronics and photovoltaic panels (CEEW1 to CEEW19) | Television sets, refrigerators, washing machines, air-conditioners, fluorescent lamps, monitors, set top boxes, solar panels, cells and modules, digital cameras |
| (iii) | Large and small electrical and electronic equipment (LSEEW1 to LSEEW34) | Large cooling appliances, freezers, dish washers, microwaves, electric fans, vacuum cleaners, indoor air purifiers, hair dryers, electric kettles, display boards |
| (iv) | Electrical and electronic tools, with the exception of large-scale stationary industrial tools (EETW1 to EETW8) | Drills, saws, sewing machines, welding and soldering tools, gardening tools |
| (v) | Toys, leisure and sports equipment (TLSEW1 to TLSEW6) | Electrical trains, video games, sports equipment with electric components, coin slot machines |
| (vi) | Medical devices, with the exception of all implanted and infected products (MDW1 to MDW10) | Radiotherapy, cardiology, dialysis, MRI, CT and ultrasound equipment |
| (vii) | Laboratory instruments (LIW1 and LIW2) | Gas analysers, equipment with electrical and electronic components |
The list is not reproduced in full here; the code in the Schedule decides whether a product is covered. The Steering Committee may review and revise the guidelines, the EPR target or the addition of new equipment to Schedule I with Central Government approval (rule 25(3)).
Rule 3: the definitions that decide roles
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| "producer" (t) | A person or entity who manufactures and offers to sell equipment under its own brand; offers to sell under its own brand assembled equipment produced by others; offers to sell imported equipment; or imports used equipment, irrespective of the selling technique such as dealer, retailer or e-retailer |
| "manufacturer" (p) | A person, entity or company (as in the Companies Act, 2013), a factory (as in the Factories Act, 1948) or a small or medium enterprise with facilities to manufacture Schedule I equipment |
| "refurbisher" (v) | A person repairing or assembling used Schedule I equipment to extend its working life for the same use and selling it in the market |
| "recycler" (u) | A person engaged in recycling and reprocessing of waste equipment, components or parts for recovery of precious and semi-precious metals, including rare earth elements, and having facilities as in the CPCB's guidelines |
| "dismantler" (f) | A person or entity engaged in dismantling used equipment and components in accordance with the CPCB's guidelines (as substituted in 2024) |
| "bulk consumer" (b) | An entity that has used at least one thousand units of Schedule I equipment at any point of time in a financial year, including an e-retailer |
| "e-waste" (l) | Electrical and electronic equipment, including solar photo-voltaic modules, panels or cells, whole or in part discarded as waste, and rejects from manufacturing, refurbishment and repair |
| "extended producer responsibility" (m) | The responsibility of a producer of Schedule I equipment for meeting recycling targets under Schedules III and IV, only through registered recyclers |
| "historical e-waste" (o) | E-waste generated from Schedule I equipment that was available on the date the Rules came into force |
| "orphaned products" (q) | Non-branded or assembled equipment in Schedule I, or equipment of a company that has closed its operations |
| "target" (y) | The quantity of e-waste to be recycled through a registered recycler by the producer in fulfilment of EPR |
| "e-retailer" (k) | An individual, company or business entity that uses an electronic network such as the internet, social media or telephone to sell its goods |
Words not defined but defined in the Act carry the Act's meanings (rule 3(2)).
What changed in 2024
G.S.R. 164(E) of 8 March 2024 substituted clause (f) so that "dismantler" means a person or entity dismantling used electrical and electronic equipment and components "in accordance with the guidelines of the Central Pollution Control Board". Dismantlers are in the application rule but have no registration category of their own in rule 4; they work as helpers of recyclers, as explained in rules 9 to 12.
Who is affected
Brand owners, assemblers, importers of new or used electronics, e-commerce sellers using their own brand, refurbishers, dismantlers, recyclers and large users of equipment. Micro enterprises are outside the Rules, but a supplier or customer of a micro enterprise may still be inside them.
Example
Nova Gadgets Private Limited, a company, sells smartphones under its own brand, assembled by a contract manufacturer, and also imports a range of routers. Cellular telephones (ITEW15) and routers (ITEW22) are in Schedule I. The company is a producer under clause (t) for both lines. Its contract manufacturer is a manufacturer under clause (p). Nova should register on the portal as a producer (rule 4) and look at the targets in rules 13 to 15.
Need help placing your business in the E-Waste Rules?
The definitions decide whether you are a producer, a manufacturer or a refurbisher, and whether Schedule I covers your product line. Our compliance advisory team can help you map products to Schedule I codes and roles to registrations.
Key takeaways
- The Rules took effect on 1 April 2023 and cover Schedule I equipment, its components, consumables, parts and spares.
- Waste batteries, packaging plastics, micro enterprises and radio-active wastes are excluded.
- A producer includes anyone selling under its own brand, selling imported equipment or importing used equipment, whatever the sales channel.
- A bulk consumer uses at least one thousand units in a financial year.
- Dismantlers are defined by reference to CPCB guidelines, as substituted in 2024.
Read next
- Rules 4 and 5: registration and manufacturer duties
- Rules 13 to 15: EPR targets, certificates and price band
- E-Waste and Battery Waste Rules: amendments 2023 to 2025
- Section 6 of the EP Act: rules to regulate environmental pollution
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.