 "Government bans usage of polychlorinated biphenyls in India")
The government has decided to completely prohibit the use of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), a group of man-made compounds that are considered toxic pollutant, by the end of 2025. “The use of polychlorinated biphenyls in any form shall be completely prohibited by December 31, 2025,” said Environment Ministry in a notification issued in this regard April 6, 2016.
Polychlorinated biphenyls, widely used in electrical equipment in the past, have already been banned in many countries because of environmental concerns.
The Environment Ministry had published a draft notification in August 2015, seeking comments from all stakeholders. Based on these suggestions, the final notification was published on April 6, 2016. The ministry has issued the Regulation of Polychlorinated Biphenyls Order, 2016 calling for the ban on the import and manufacture of toxic pollutant polychlorinated biphenyls in the country.
Even equipment containing PCBs will have to be discontinued from December 2025. “The use of polychlorinated biphenyls containing equipment will be permitted for their certified life time or December 31, 2025, whichever is earlier, provided that they are maintained properly without possibility of leakage or release of polychlorinated biphenyls to environment,” said the notification.
Polychlorinated biphenyls, widely used in electrical equipment in the past, have already been banned in many countries because of environmental concerns.
The Environment Ministry had published a draft notification in August 2015, seeking comments from all stakeholders. Based on these suggestions, the final notification was published on April 6, 2016. The ministry has issued the Regulation of Polychlorinated Biphenyls Order, 2016 calling for the ban on the import and manufacture of toxic pollutant polychlorinated biphenyls in the country.
Even equipment containing PCBs will have to be discontinued from December 2025. “The use of polychlorinated biphenyls containing equipment will be permitted for their certified life time or December 31, 2025, whichever is earlier, provided that they are maintained properly without possibility of leakage or release of polychlorinated biphenyls to environment,” said the notification.