| TAMIL NADU GOVERNMENT GAZETTE PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY | ||
No. 31] CHENNAI, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 6, 2025 Aadi 21, Visuvaavasu, Thiruvalluvar Aandu–2056
Part II—Section 1
Notifications or Orders of specific character or of particular interest to the
public issued by Secretariat Departments.
NOTIFICATIONS BY GOVERNMENT
CONTENTS Pages.
ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE CHANGE AND FOREST DEPARTMENT
Amendments to the Ban on ̒one time use and throwaway plastics' under the Environment (Protection) Act .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 56 56 TAMIL NADU GOVERNMENT GAZETTE [Part II—Sec. 1
NOTIFICATIONS BY GOVERNMENT
ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE CHANGE AND FOREST DEPARTMENT
Amendments to the Ban on ̒one time use and throwaway plastics'
under the Environment (Protection) Act.
[G.O.Ms. No. 104, Environment, Climate Change and Forest (EC.2), 23rd June 2025,
ஆனி 9, விசுவாவசு, திருவள்ளுவர் ஆண்டு-2056.]
No. II(1)/ECCF/23/2025.—In exercise of the powers conferred under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (Central Act 29 of 1986) read with the Government of India, Ministry of Environment and Forest, Notification No.S.O.152(E), dated the 10th February, 1988, the Governor of Tamil Nadu hereby makes the following amendments to the directions issued in the Environment and Forest Department's Notification No.II(1)/EF/13(f)/2018, published at pages 1 and 2 of the Tamil Nadu Government Gazette Extraordinary, dated the 27th June 2018.
2. These amendments shall come into force at once.
Amendments.
In the said Directions, -
(1) in the proviso under direction 1, -
(i) after item (a), the following item shall be inserted, namely:-
"(b) The plastics bags which constitute or form an integral part of packaging in which goods are sealed prior to use at Manufacturing/processing units.";
(ii) after item (e), the following item shall be added namely:-
"(f) Non-woven plastic bag greater than 60 Gram per Square Metre (GSM) subject to the following conditions: - (i) The identity of the manufacturer of the non-woven plastic fabrics shall be printed on the final products (like carry bags) along with the consent order details obtained from respective State Pollution Control Board;
(ii) The marking and labeling "This bag is made from non-woven plastic fabric more than 60 GSM" shall be printed on the non-woven plastic bags;
(iii) Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board/Urban Local Bodies shall periodically inspect and check the non-woven plastic fabrics / bags in the industries / commercial establishments to verify the GSM and other requirements;
(iv) Urban Local Bodies shall ensure to have separate collection system / facility and for sending the non-woven plastic bag wastes for recycling / co-processing in Cement Plants;
(v) The manufacturers / producers of non-woven plastic fabrics shall register under the provisions of "Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for plastic packaging" as per Schedule-II of Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 as amended;
(vi) Though the Committee has reconsidered and recommended the use of non-woven plastic bags greater than 60 GSM in compliance with the directions of the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India, the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board continues to promote the use of cloth bags through the Meendum Manjappai Campaign.";
(2) for Explanation 2, the following Explanation shall be substituted, namely: -
"Explanation 2 - "Use and throw away plastic" means items such as plastic carry bags, plastic flags, plastic sheets used for food wrapping, spreading on dining table etc., plastic plates, plastic coated tea cups and plastic tumblers, water pouches and packets, plastic straw irrespective of thickness, non-woven plastic bag less than 60 Gram per Square Metre (GSM), ear buds with plastic sticks, plastic sticks for balloons, candy with plastic sticks, ice cream with plastic sticks, polystyrene (thermocol) for decoration, plastic thermocol plates and cups, wrapping or packing around sweet boxes, invitation cards and cigarette packets, plastic stirrers and trays, cutlery such as plastic forks, spoons and knives and plastic or PVC banners less than 100 micron.".
(3) after Explanation 2, as so amended the following shall be inserted namely: -
" Explanation 2 A - "Non-woven Plastic bag" means Non-woven Plastic bag made up of plastic sheet or web structured fabric of entangled plastic fibers of filaments (and by perforating films) bonded together by mechanical or thermal or chemical means, and the "non-woven fabric" means a flat or tufted porous sheet that is made directly from plastic fibers, molten plastic or plastic films.".
SUPRIYA SAHU, Additional Chief Secretary to Government.