Bio-Medical Waste (Management & Handling) Rules, 1998

The Biomedical Waste Management & Handling) Rules, 1998 cameinto force on 1998. In exercise of the powers conferred by section 6,8 &25 of EP Act, 1986, the Central Govt. notified these rules for themanagement and Handling of biomedical wastes generated fromHospitals, clinics, other institutions for scientific management ofBiomedical Waste.

The Biomedical waste means any waste, which is generated duringthe diagnosis, treatment or immunization of human beings or animals orin research activities pertaining thereto or in the production or testing ofbiological and including categories mentioned in schedule I of the Rules. It shall be the duty of every occupier of an institution generatingbio-medical waste which includes a hospital, nursing home, clinic,dispensary, veterinary institution, animal house, pathological laboratory,blood bank by what ever name called to take all steps to ensure thatsuch waste is handled without any adverse effect to human health andthe environment.

The Segregation, Packaging, Transportation and Storage shall be done as under:-
1. Bio-medical waste shall not be mixed with other wastes.
2. Bio-medical waste shall be segregated intocontainers/bags at the points of generation in accordancewith Schedule II prior to its storage transportation,treatment and disposal. The containers shall be labelledaccording to Schedule III.

Every occupier of an institution generating, collecting, receiving,storing, transporting, treating and /or handling Biomedical Waste shallapply on Form 1 for Authorization to the Board.

 The State Pollution Control Board are declared as prescribed Authorityfor grant of Authorization. The Board grants authorizations aftersatisfying itself.

Every occupier/operator shall submit an annual report to theprescribed authority in Form II by 31 January every year, to includeinformation about the categories and quantities of bio-medical wasteshandled during the proceeding year. The prescribed authority shall sendthis information in a complied form to the Central Pollution Controlboard by 31 March every year.

When any accident occurs at any institution or facility or any othersite where bio-medical waste is handled or during transportation of suchwaste, the authorized person shall report the accident in Form III to theprescribed authority forthwith.

Any person aggrieved by an order made by the prescribed authorityunder these rules, may within thirty days from the date on which theorder is communicated to him, prefer an appeal to such authority as thegovernment of State/Union Territory may think fit to constitute. Provided that the authority may entertain the appeal after theexpiry of the said period of thirty days if it is satisfied that the appellantwas prevented by sufficient cause from filing the appeal in time.

For violating the provisions of these Rules, the Board can file acomplaint under section 15 of EP Act which provide for imprisonmentwhich may extend upto 5 years with fine. The Board can also havedirections for closure of any defaulting hospital/clinic/institution undersection 5 of EP Act as per powers delegated by the Central Govt.

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