National Environmental (Battery Control) Regulations, 2024

These regulations seek to prevent and minimize pollution and waste emanating from batteries and adopt an extended producer responsibility framework. They extend to new and used batteries for their entire life cycle.

Some key provisions of the regulations are set out below:

• As per the polluter pays principle, the collection, treatment, transportation and final disposal of wastes is the responsibility of the facility generating the wastes. Such facility is also held responsible for the cost of damage assessment, control, clean-up, remediation, and reclamation and/or restoration, as appropriate. 
• The regulations lay down the responsibilities of producers, manufacturers, component dealers, collection centres, recyclers. For instance, producers, importers, and distributors of portable batteries are liable to take back used batteries at no cost to the end user. In addition, key stakeholders are required to register with a Producer Responsibility Organisation to implement the extended producer responsibility programme. 
• The import of used batteries and their components is prohibited. The export of used batteries and their components is also prohibited, except with a relevant permit from the Federal Ministry of Environment. 
• The regulations also set out guidelines for the recycling, collection, transportation, and storage of used batteries.

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