Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by clause (viii) of sub-section (2) of section (3) read with section 25 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, the Central Government hereby notifies the rules for the manufacture and use of recycled plastics carry bags and containers.

1. Short title and commencement:

(a) These rules may be called the Recycled Plastics Manufacture and Usage Rules, 1999.

(b) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the official gazette.

2. Definition : In these rules unless the context requires.

(a) 'Act' means The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

(b) 'Foodstuffs' mean ready-to-eat food and food products, fast food,processed and cooked food in       liquid,powder, solid or semi-solid form.

(c) 'Vendor' means person who sells foodstuffs as defined above packaged and stored in plastic carry bags       and containers.

3. Prescribed Authority:

(a) The prescribed authority for enforcement of the provisions of these rules related to manufacture and      recycling shall be the State Pollution Control Committees in respect of Union Territories.

(b) The prescribed authority for enforcement of the previsions of these rules related to the use, collection,       segregation, transportation and disposal shall be the District Collector/ Deputy Commissioner of the       concerned district where no such authority has been constituted by the StateGovernment / Union Territory       administration under any law regarding non-biodegradable garbage.

4. Prohibition of usage of carry bags or containers made of recycled plastics:

The vendor shall use carry bags or containers made of recycled plastics for storing, carrying, dispensing, or packaging of foodstuffs.

1. Conditions of manufacture of carry bags and containers made of plastics:

Subject to the provisions of rule 4, any person may manufacture carry bagsor containers made of plastics if the following conditions are satisfied, namely:

(a) Carry bags and containers made of virgin plastic shall be in natural shade of white.

(b)Carry bagsand containers made of recycled plastics and used for purpose other than storing and      packaging foodstuffs shall be manufactured using pigments and colourants as per IS:9833:1981 entitled      'List of pigments and colorants for use in plastics in contact with food stuffs, pharmaceuticals and drinking      water'.

2. Recycling:- Recycling of plastics shall be undertaken strictly in accordance with the Bureau of Indian     Standards specification: IS:14534:1998 entitled 'The Guidelines for Recycling of Plastics'.

3. Marketing/ Codification:- Manufacturers of recycled plastic carry bags having printing facilities shall     code/make carry bags and containers as per bureau of Indian Standard Specification: IS:14534:1998,     entitled 'TheGuidelines for Recycling of Plastics' and the end product made out of recycled plastics shall be     marked as 'recycled' along with the indication of the percentage of use of recycled material. Other     manufacturers who do not have printing facilities, shall comply with the condition within one year of     publication of these rules. Manufacturers shall print on each packet of carry bags as to whether these are     made of 'recycled material' or of 'virgin plastic'.

4. Thickness of Carry Bags:- The minimum thickness of carry bags made of virgin plastics or recycled plastics     shall not be less than 20 microns.

5. Self regulation by certain persons:- Without prejudice to the provisions contained in rule 3, the plastics     industry Association, through their member units shall undertake self-regulatory measures.