15 April 2020

Introduction:

 Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on 27^th March 2020, has made an amendment to EIA Notification 2006.  All projects or activities in respect of bulk drugs  manufactured for addressing various ailments, have been re-categorized from the existing Category ‘A’ to ‘B2’ category.

Highlights:

• The states have also been issued advisories to expeditiously process such proposals.
• To ensure expeditious disposal of the proposals within given time-line, Ministry has also advised states to use information technology   keeping in view the prevailing situation. As the situation prohibits, appraisal of proposals through physical meetings.
• The re-categorization of such proposals has been done to facilitate decentralization of appraisal to State Level so as to fast track the process.
• Difference between category A and B2:
• Category  A -Projects require mandatory environmental clearance.
• Category  B2 – Projects are exempted from requirement of collection of Base line data, EIA Studies and public consultation.

Objective of the amendment:

• To address unprecedented situation arising from global outbreak of Novel Corona Virus (COVID-19), and to ramp up availability or production of various drugs.
• This step of the Govt is also with a view to help in increasing the availability of the important medicines/ drugs in the country within short span of time.
• This amendment is applicable to all proposals received up to 30^th September 2020.
• The states have also been issued advisories to expeditiously process such proposals.