Most importers know about BIS. Far fewer have EPR on their radar - until a shipment is held at port and the demurrage clock starts. In 2026, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) has become a live checkpoint in customs clearance, and for importers of electronics, batteries or plastic-packaged goods, a missing EPR registration can stop cargo cold and trigger penalties of up to a lakh a day.
If you import any of those categories, this is the compliance you cannot afford to overlook.
What Is EPR?
Extended Producer Responsibility makes producers, importers and brand owners legally responsible for the end-of-life waste their products generate. You register with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), obtain an EPR certificate, and take on obligations to collect or recycle a share of the waste your products create.
For an importer, EPR is not optional for covered products - it is a condition of doing business, and increasingly, a condition of clearing customs.
Who Must Register?
EPR applies across three main waste streams, each under its own rules:
| Waste stream | Who must register | Typical products |
|---|---|---|
| E-waste | Importers of covered electronics | Computers, phones, TVs, appliances |
| Plastic packaging | Importers, producers, brand owners (PIBOs) | Plastic packaging, films, plastic products |
| Battery waste | Importers of batteries | Lithium-ion and lead-acid batteries |
If your product or its packaging falls into any of these, assume EPR applies and register before you import.
Why Customs Now Cares
EPR used to be an environmental obligation policed separately. That has changed. The Ministry of Environment and CBIC have directed customs authorities to verify EPR compliance at the point of import - and since July 2025, importers of plastic raw materials such as resin, pellets, films and preforms must present proof of EPR plastic registration on the CPCB portal at the time of customs clearance.
In practice, EPR has joined BIS as one of the first things that can freeze your shipment. An importer without a valid EPR certificate number in the Bill of Entry is now liable to be flagged and held.
Importing electronics, batteries or plastic-packaged goods? We will check which EPR streams apply to you and get you registered before your next shipment. Book a free EPR check or message us on WhatsApp.
The Cost of Getting It Wrong
Non-compliance is expensive on two fronts. First, the shipment: no valid EPR, and cargo is held while demurrage and ground rent accumulate - often costing more than the registration ever would. Second, the penalty: Environmental Compensation under the Environment Protection Act can run to as much as a lakh of rupees per day for operating without valid EPR. Between the two, a missing registration is one of the costliest oversights an importer can make.
EPR Is Not BIS - You May Need Both
A point that catches importers out: EPR and BIS are separate compliances, and many products need both. A mobile phone, for instance, needs BIS registration under the electronics scheme and EPR registration for e-waste. Clearing one does not clear the other. If you have sorted your BIS certification and assumed you were done, EPR may still be an open gap.
How to Get Registered
Registration is done on the CPCB portal for the relevant waste stream, with company and product details and the required documentation, and takes a few weeks to process. Because it takes time and because customs now checks for it, the rule is simple: start the EPR registration before you place your order, not when the goods are already on the water. A licensed customs house agent can confirm which streams apply and keep the certificate numbers correctly entered on your Bill of Entry.
People Also Ask
What is EPR registration for importers?
EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) registration makes importers legally responsible for the end-of-life waste their products create. Importers of covered electronics, batteries and plastic-packaged goods must register with the CPCB and obtain an EPR certificate.
Is EPR mandatory for imports in India?
Yes, for covered categories. Since July 2025, importers of plastic raw materials must show proof of EPR plastic registration at customs clearance, and e-waste and battery importers must register under their respective rules.
What happens if I import without EPR?
Your shipment can be held at customs while charges accumulate, and Environmental Compensation penalties of up to around a lakh of rupees per day can apply for operating without valid EPR.
Is EPR the same as BIS?
No. They are separate compliances. Many products - electronics especially - need both BIS registration and EPR registration.
Which products need EPR?
Covered electronics (e-waste), plastic packaging and plastic products, and batteries. If your product or packaging falls into any of these streams, EPR applies.
How long does EPR registration take?
It typically takes a few weeks on the CPCB portal, which is why you should begin before placing your import order.
The Short Version
EPR has quietly become a customs gatekeeper. For importers of electronics, batteries or plastic-packaged goods, a valid EPR registration is now as essential to clearance as your BIS certificate - and the penalties for skipping it are steep. Register early, keep the certificate numbers on your Bill of Entry, and treat it as a standard part of your import compliance. See our related guide on BIS certification and how to avoid demurrage.
Not sure which EPR streams apply to your products? We will map your obligations and handle the registration. Book a free consultation or use the enquiry form.
