Tracker · India
Packaging Regulation in India
Every packaging rule in India that we have sourced so far: EPR, taxes, bans, recycled-content and reuse targets, labelling and deposit return, with dates, rates and the official text.
In short
As of 13 October 2026
As of 13 October 2026, Strategic Packaging Insights tracks 4 packaging rules in India: 4 in force and 0 adopted but not yet applying. Extended producer responsibility for packaging is in force (EPR Guidelines for plastic packaging (PWM Rules Schedule II)).
Key facts
Packaging rules in India at a glance
- Latest change: Reuse targets for rigid plastic packaging (PWM Rules Schedule II, revised 2026) (Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, 31 March 2026).
- By type: 1 Reuse target, 1 Recycled content, 1 EPR and 1 Ban.
In force now in India
EPR (1)
EPR Guidelines for plastic packaging (PWM Rules Schedule II)
SPI summary Guidelines on Extended Producer Responsibility for plastic packaging were notified as Schedule II of the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 by the fourth amendment of 2022. Producers, importers and brand owners register and file returns on CPCB's centralised EPR portal (eprplastic.cpcb.gov.in).
From the source “in its fourth amendment to the Plastic Waste Management Rules, dated February 16, 2022 … CPCB has developed the Centralized EPR Portal for Plastic Packaging https://eprplastic.cpcb.gov.in”
Materials: Plastic
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change; Central Pollution Control Board · Applies from 16 Feb 2022 · NGT: CPCB reply in OA 1179 of 2024 (Hariyali Welfare Society v. Union of India)
Source consulted 13 Oct 2026 · History (3)
- Changed: effective date, rate note
- Verified
- Added
EPRIn forceEnactedSourced
Ban (1)
Ban on identified single-use plastic items
SPI summary Manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of listed single-use plastic items, including plates, cups, cutlery, straws, stirrers, ear buds with plastic sticks and wrapping film around sweet boxes and cigarette packets, prohibited from 1 July 2022. Plastic carry bags must be at least 120 microns from 31 December 2022.
120 microns (minimum carry bag thickness) 75 microns from 30 Sep 2021; 120 microns from 31 Dec 2022.
From the source “including polystyrene and expanded polystyrene, commodities shall be prohibited with effect from the 1st July, 2022”
Materials: Plastic, Single-use plastic
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change · Applies from 1 Jul 2022 · MoEFCC Gazette G.S.R. 571(E), hosted by Maharashtra Pollution Control Board
Source consulted 13 Oct 2026 · Verified by the SPI team on 13 Oct 2026 · History (2)
- Verified
- Added
BanIn forceEnactedVerified
Recycled content (1)
Recycled content in plastic packaging (PWM Rules Schedule II, revised 2026)
SPI summary Recycled plastic content obligations for producers, importers and brand owners were first set in Schedule II in 2022. G.S.R. 237(E) of 2026 restates the category-wise targets for 2025-26 to 2028-29 and adds exemptions where law bars recycled plastic, certificate purchase for importers and a three-year carry-forward of unmet 2025-26 food-contact targets.
60 % recycled plastic (Category I, 2028-29 onwards) Category I: 30/40/50/60% for 2025-26 to 2028-29+; Category II: 10/10/20/20%; Category III: 5/5/10/10%. Same figures as G.S.R. 133(E) of 16 Feb 2022; the 2026 amendment substitutes the clauses, in force on publication.
From the source “The brand owner shall ensure use of recycled plastic in plastic packaging category-wise”
Materials: Plastic
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change · Applies from 31 Mar 2026 · MoEFCC Gazette G.S.R. 237(E), hosted by Maharashtra Pollution Control Board
Source consulted 13 Oct 2026 · History (4)
- Changed: title, SPI summary, rate note
- Verified
- Changed: unit
- Added
Recycled contentIn forceEnactedSourced
Reuse target (1)
Reuse targets for rigid plastic packaging (PWM Rules Schedule II, revised 2026)
SPI summary Brand owners must reuse a minimum share of Category I rigid plastic packaging, an obligation first set in Schedule II in 2022. The 2026 amendment keeps 70% to 85% for drinking-water containers of 4.9 litres or more and 10% to 25% for 0.9 to 4.9 litre packs, adds a 10% to 15% target for other large packs and allows carry-forward.
85 % reuse (drinking-water rigid packaging >=4.9 L/kg, 2028-29 onwards) 0.9-4.9 L/kg: 10/15/20/25%; >=4.9 L/kg drinking water: 70/75/80/85%; >=4.9 L/kg other: 10/10/15/15% (2025-26 to 2028-29+). The 2022 Schedule II (G.S.R. 133(E)) set 10-25% and 70-85% without the drinking-water split.
From the source “shall have minimum obligation to reuse such packaging as per the table given below”
Materials: Plastic
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change · Applies from 31 Mar 2026 · MoEFCC Gazette G.S.R. 237(E), hosted by Maharashtra Pollution Control Board
Source consulted 13 Oct 2026 · History (4)
- Changed: title, SPI summary, rate note
- Verified
- Changed: unit
- Added
Reuse targetIn forceEnactedSourced
Timeline of packaging rules in India
| Adopted | Rule | Type | Status | Applies from |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 Mar 2026 | Reuse targets for rigid plastic packaging (PWM Rules Schedule II, revised 2026) | Reuse target | In force | 31 Mar 2026 |
| 31 Mar 2026 | Recycled content in plastic packaging (PWM Rules Schedule II, revised 2026) | Recycled content | In force | 31 Mar 2026 |
| 16 Feb 2022 | EPR Guidelines for plastic packaging (PWM Rules Schedule II) | EPR | In force | 16 Feb 2022 |
| 12 Aug 2021 | Ban on identified single-use plastic items | Ban | In force | 1 Jul 2022 |
How India compares
| Jurisdiction | Rules | In force | EPR | Taxes | Bans | Next deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 2 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Austria | 1 | 1 | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Brazil | 1 | 1 | Yes | 0 | 0 | — |
| Canada | 6 | 6 | Yes | 0 | 2 | — |
| Chile | 1 | 1 | Yes | 0 | 0 | — |
| China | 3 | 3 | — | 0 | 1 | — |
| Colombia | 2 | 2 | Yes | 0 | 1 | — |
| European Union | 18 | 6 | — | 1 | 1 | 12 Aug 2028 |
| France | 3 | 3 | — | 0 | 1 | — |
| Germany | 2 | 2 | Yes | 0 | 0 | — |
| India | 4 | 4 | Yes | 0 | 1 | — |
| Indonesia | 1 | 1 | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ireland | 1 | 1 | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Japan | 2 | 2 | Yes | 0 | 0 | — |
| Kenya | 2 | 2 | Yes | 0 | 1 | — |
| New Zealand | 2 | 1 | — | 0 | 1 | — |
| Philippines | 1 | 1 | Yes | 0 | 0 | — |
| Poland | 1 | 1 | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Portugal | 1 | 1 | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| South Africa | 1 | 1 | Yes | 0 | 0 | — |
| Spain | 2 | 2 | — | 1 | 0 | — |
| United Arab Emirates | 1 | 1 | — | 0 | 1 | — |
| United Kingdom | 7 | 5 | Yes | 1 | 2 | 1 Oct 2027 |
| United States | 13 | 11 | Yes | 0 | 3 | — |
| Vietnam | 1 | 1 | Yes | 0 | 0 | — |
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About the SPI Regulation Tracker
- Purpose
- To show packaging teams which rules on packaging and packaging waste apply where, from when, and at what rate, with the official text one click away.
- Coverage
- 79 rules in 25 jurisdictions: extended producer responsibility, packaging taxes, bans, recycled-content and reuse targets, labelling, deposit return, design and reporting rules. Coverage is growing and is not complete for any jurisdiction.
- Data sources
- Official journals and gazettes, legislatures, ministries, regulators and the bodies that run each scheme. Each rule names its source, links to it and quotes it.
- SPI Methodology
- An analyst finds the rule in its source, records the facts (authority, dates, rate, materials) and copies a short quote. The SPI summary and SPI note are our reading of the source and are labelled. A second SPI team member then re-checks the rule against the source; it is then marked Verified. Any later change to the facts sends it back to Sourced and is logged in its history.
- Limitations
- Not legal advice. 33 of 79 rules have had a second check so far. Rates and dates can change after the date a source was consulted, and secondary legislation, guidance and local rules may not be listed. Always rely on the official text.
- Access
- Free to read and to download as CSV, with weekly change alerts by e-mail. For a mapping of the rules to your own products and markets, request a briefing.
- Corrections
- Found an error or a missing rule? Write to sales@strategicpackaginginsights.com with the rule ID and the source. Corrections are logged in the rule history.
Questions
Does India have packaging EPR?
Yes. In force: EPR Guidelines for plastic packaging (PWM Rules Schedule II). Each rule is listed on this page with its authority, dates and official source.
Is there a packaging tax in India?
We have not yet recorded a packaging tax or levy in force in India as of 13 October 2026.
Which packaging items are banned in India?
Bans in force: Ban on identified single-use plastic items.
What are the rows in this tracker based on?
Each rule links to the source it was taken from, usually the legal text in an official journal or gazette or the page of the ministry, regulator or agency that runs it, with a short quote from that source. 33 of the 79 rules have also been re-checked against the source by a second SPI team member and are marked Verified; the others are marked Sourced. Always confirm against the linked text before relying on a rule.
What is the difference between the source quote and the SPI summary?
The quote is copied from the official source. The SPI summary and any SPI note are our own reading of it, written in plain language, and are labelled as such.
What do the statuses mean?
Enacted rules are law: in force (applies now), adopted (passed, but obligations start later), expired or withdrawn. Proposed rules are formal proposals or drafts that are not yet law.
Is this legal advice?
No. The tracker summarises official texts so you can see what applies and when. Always check the linked legal text, or ask us for a compliance briefing for your products and markets.
How current is a row, and what changed?
Each rule shows the date its source was consulted and a history of every change made to it since it was added. Rules are added and changed as the SPI team finds them, and a weekly source check re-opens the sources behind open points such as pending implementing acts, court cases and fee announcements.
Ask the SPI team
Which rules apply to your packs?
Tell us your products, materials and markets. An analyst maps the obligations, fees and deadlines that apply, with every source.
Prefer email? Write to sales@strategicpackaginginsights.com.
- Q1
Which packaging rules apply to us in each market we sell in?
We map each market's EPR, tax, ban, recycled-content, labelling and deposit rules against your materials and formats, and show which are in force, adopted or only proposed.
- Q2
What could EPR fees and plastic taxes cost us next year?
We apply published fee tables and tax rates to your tonnages and recycled content, and show the result as scenarios with every rate sourced.
- Q3
Can you tell us when a rule changes?
Yes. The free tracker alerts cover rule changes by country; a monitoring retainer adds monthly notes on what the changes mean for your portfolio.