E-Scrap News Magazine: India imposes ban on imports of e-scrap

India imposes ban on imports of e-scrap

By Editorial Staff, E-Scrap News

August 20, 2015

India will no longer consider requests to import certain categories of scrap electronics in an effort to prevent the material from later becoming burdensome e-waste.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on July 16 said it will no longer consider applications to import e-scrap for trading purposes. Imports of used computers, servers and accessories won't be allowed unless those devices are scheduled for re-export within a year. In addition, the government is prohibiting imports of used medical equipment that is more than three years old.

"The items proposed to be imported are known to have short functional life and are prone to become obsolete in a short period of time," according to minutes of a June 3 meeting of a technical review committee. "Therefore, generation of e-waste would become quicker in the country."

At the June 3 meeting, the committee recommended rejecting Apple's request to import 100,000 used iPhones and 250,000 used iPads. Apple was "contemplating exploring the market for refurbished EEE in India," according to the meeting minutes.

Apple said the products are sold at "Apple Certified-PreOwned" outlets after repair by the OEM, according to The Indian Express. The newspaper reported that other major electronics companies have also had import requests rejected, including IBM, Nokia, Honeywell and Hewlett-Packard.

Chennai, India-based Accel Frontline Global IT Services tried to import 173,328 refurbished hard drives from various countries, including the U.S., but the application was rejected.

The ministry also said it wouldn't consider applications to import some types of plastic scrap.

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