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Centre notifies new rules for management of bio-medical waste

The Centre on Sunday notified new rules for the management of bio-medical wastes in the country that prescribe more stringent standards for incinerators to reduce emissions and envisage the creation of a bar-code system for bags containing such refuse.

The Environment Ministry’s Bio-medical Waste Management Rules, 2016, also bring vaccination, blood donation and surgical camps under its ambit while providing for pre- treatment of laboratory and microbiological waste and blood samples and bags on-site as prescribed by the World Health Organisation and National Aids Control Organisation (NACO).

Under the new rules, bio-medical waste has been classified into four categories instead of the earlier 10 to improve the segregation of waste at source.

“The new bio-medical waste management rules will change the way the country used to manage this waste earlier. Under the new regime, the coverage will increase. It also provides for pre-treatment of lab waste, blood samples, etc,” Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said while releasing the new rules. “It mandates bar code system for proper control and has simplified categorisation and authorisation. Thus it will make a big difference to the Clean India Mission,” he said. 
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