Law Updates

Subject

Summary: The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has notified the Environment (Protection) Seventh Amendment Rules, 2025 under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. The revised framework introduces strict limits on waste discharge, freshwater use, and discharge levels for the pulp and paper industry. For mills using chemical pulp, standards now control pH, total suspended solids, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), colour, absorbable organic halogens, and sodium absorption ratio. Mills based on recycled fiber face similar limitations with slight relaxations. Additionally, chemical pulp manufacturing will only be allowed where mills operate chemical recovery systems to ensure zero black-liquor discharge. Freshwater use and discharge standards are product-specific. Bleached grades of chemical pulp are capped at 50 m3 of water per ton of product with 40 m3 effluent discharge. Mills based on recycled fibre are subject to stricter limits. Emission standards for particulate matter and odorous gases such as hydrogen sulphide (H2S) have been introduced. Rayon-grade pulp industries are excluded from the scope of the amendment.

Subject

Summary: The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has notified the Motor Vehicles (Registration and Functions of Vehicle Scrapping Facility) Amendment Rules, 2025. These rules aim to strengthen India’s vehicle scrapping policy and promote vehicle recycling. The amendment adds new provisions to allow recyclers from sectors like ship breaking, plastic recycling, and others to register and operate as part of a vehicle scrapping facility. This step will make the process of vehicle recycling in India more organised, safe, and eco-friendly. It will also encourage the growth of vehicle scrapping facilities across the country and ensure compliance with the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. With the MoRTH notification 2025, the government is focusing on reducing pollution, reusing valuable materials, and promoting a cleaner environment. The vehicle scrapping rules are an important part of India’s green mobility and sustainable development efforts.

Subject

Summary: The Ministry of Power, Government of India, has issued a notification to amend the Electricity Rules, 2005. The new Electricity (Amendment) Rules, 2025, highlight the use and operation of Energy Storage Systems (ESS). According to the amendment, ESS can be used as independent systems or as part of power generation, transmission, or distribution. The rules clarify that ESS can be developed, owned, leased, or operated by generating companies, transmission licensees, distribution licensees, consumers, system operators, or independent service providers. If the ESS is located with a power station, transmission licensee, or consumer, it will have the same legal status as its owner. Even if not co-located, it will still hold the legal status of the owner but be treated as a separate storage element for scheduling and dispatch. The amendment also gives ESS owners the option to sell, lease, or rent storage capacity to utilities, consumers, or load dispatch centres.

Subject

Summary: The Central Government has notified amending the import policy condition of ATS-8 covered under Chapter 29 of ITC (HS), 2022, Schedule - I. Using powers under Section 3 and 5 of the Foreign Trade (Development & Regulation) Act, 1992, read with the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023, the import rules for ATS-8 have been revised with immediate effect. According to the amendment, the minimum import price (MIP) condition will not apply to advance authority holders, export oriented units (EOUs) and special economic zone (SEZ) units, provided that the imported material is not sold in the domestic tariff area (DTA). The effect of this notification is that imports of ATS-8 (4R-Cis)-1, 1-Dimethylethyl-6-cyanomethyl-2, 2-dimethyl-1-3-dioxane-4-acetate, priced at less than USD111 per kg, are classified as 'restricted' until 30 September 2026. However, authorized manufacturing and export-focused units remain exempt from this condition. This amendment, approved by the Minister of Commerce and Industry, balances trade regulation with support for export-oriented operations.

Subject

Summary: The Ministry of Commerce and Industry, through the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), has issued an amendment to the export policy of animal by-products under Chapter 23 of ITC (HS) 2022. The modifications are made under the Foreign Trade (Development & Regulation) Act, 1992, read with the Foreign Trade Policy 2023. A new policy requirement has been implemented for the export of raw materials used in pet food products, such as meat, offal, intestines, glands, bones, hides and similar by-products. These products, which are not intended for human consumption, should now only be sourced from APEDA registered slaughterhouses or municipal slaughterhouses. Furthermore, they must undergo post-mortem inspection and segregation to ensure their suitability for use in pet food. Certification will be granted by the designated veterinary authority of the concerned state or union territory based on the examination by veterinarians registered under the Indian Veterinary Council Act, 1984. The export policy for specific ITC (HS) codes- 23091000, 23099010, and 23099020 has been updated accordingly. This notification brings India’s export requirements in line with EU regulatory standards.

Subject

Summary: The Ministry of Commerce and Industry, through the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), has announced an important amendment to the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023. This change affects Advance Authorisation holders, EOUs, and SEZ units that import inputs covered under mandatory Quality Control Orders (QCOs) issued by the Department of Chemicals & Petrochemicals (DCPC). Earlier, the export obligation (EO) period for such imports was only 6 months (180 days) from the date of clearance of consignments. With the latest DGFT notification, the EO period has now been extended to 18 months. This aligns the export obligation period with Para 4.40 of the Handbook of Procedures. The amendment provides more flexibility to Advance Authorisation holders while ensuring compliance with QCO requirements. This notification comes into effect immediately with the approval of the Minister of Commerce & Industry.