This February newsletter covers categories of updates relating to labour, environment, industry specific and miscellaneous laws. Notification of Karnataka State Factories Self Certification Scheme-2024; revision of Professional Tax slab rates by Greater Chennai Corporation; increase in rates of contribution under the Karnataka Labour Welfare Fund Act, 1965; order regarding compliance of POSH Act in NCT, Delhi; extension of deadline for filing annual returns by producers of batteries; notification of Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2025; notification of Environment Protection (End-of-Life Vehicles) Rules, 2025 and circular regarding online submission of application for fire safety approvals in Maharashtra are some of the important updates covered in this newsletter. 

Central/ State Labour Laws Updates

Karnataka State Factories Self Certification Scheme-2024

The object of the self certification scheme introduced by the Government of Karnataka is to encourage voluntary compliance by Occupiers without compromising on safety, health, welfare and working conditions of the workers. This scheme will be applicable to all factories registered under the Factories Act, 1948 except the factories involved in hazardous manufacturing processes.

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Criteria for recognition of laboratories for conducting medical examination of workers employed in factories

The Karnataka government has issued a notification enumerating the criteria for recognition of laboratories for conducting medical examination of workers employed in factories registered under the Factories Act, 1948.

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Order regarding compliance of POSH Act in NCT, Delhi

The Labour Department, Government of Delhi has issued an order directing all District In-Charges and the Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health (DISH) to ensure that employers in public and private sectors comply with the provisions of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013.

Source: Order F.No.15(1)/LAB/2025/5379-5381 dated 6th January 2025

Revision of Professional Tax slab rates - Greater Chennai Corporation

By a resolution dated 30th December 2024, the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) approved the revision of the professional tax rates of individuals. The revised rates will be applicable from the second half of the fiscal year 2024-25.

Source: Notification No. R.D.(HQ).C.No.PT/SPL/2024 dated 20th January, 2025

Karnataka Labour Welfare Fund (Amendment) Act, 2024

The rate of contribution payable by an employee under the Karnataka Labour Welfare Fund Act, 1965 has been increased from Rupees Twenty to Rupees Fifty and for the employer from Rupees Forty to Rupees One Hundred.

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Simplification of joint declaration process - EPF

The Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has issued a circular to simplify the ‘Joint declaration process’. This is in supersession of the directions contained in the Joint Declaration SOP Version 3.0.

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Implementation of Centralized Pension Payment System (CPPS) - EPF

The full-scale implementation of the Centralized Pension Payments System (CPPS) across all Regional Offices of EPFO empowers pensioners to access their pension seamlessly from any bank, any branch, anywhere in the country and eliminates the need for physical verification visits and simplifies the pension disbursement process.

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Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women (Amendment) Act, 2025

The amendment Act has expanded the definition of ‘harassment’, increased the penalties, listed the measures to be taken for protection of women and added a new provision for Protection Order to prevent the accused from attempting to communicate with the aggrieved person.

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Industry Related Laws Updates

Launch of Electronic Personnel License (EPL) - Flight Crew 

According to the Public Notice issued by the DGCA, the Flight Crew Licensing Circular (FCL) 01 of 2024, which was supposed to be effective from 15th January 2025, has now been revised and the updated date will be notified soon. All other standards, specifications and procedures for Electronics Personnel License – Flight Crew (EPL) covered in FCL 01 of 2024 will remain unchanged.

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Timeline for the compliance of amendments in labelling provisions - FSSAI

FSSAI has fixed the date of enforcement of labelling amendments specified under the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020, starting from July 1st every year. This date is subject to minimum of 180 days from the date of notification for the amendments related to FSS (Labelling and Display) Regulations and also for any change in labelling specified in other FSS Regulations.

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Announcement of structured timeline for compliance with amendments in labelling provisions under the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011 

A revised timeline has been introduced by the Central Government for implementing amendments in the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011. To facilitate smooth implementation, any amendments to labelling provisions will come into effect on either 1st January or 1st July, subject to a minimum transition period of 180 days from the date of notification. 

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Guidelines for development of nasal spray as dosage form for Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani drugs

The Drugs (First Amendment) Rules, 2025 notified by the Ministry of Ayush has introduced guidelines for development of nasal spray as dosage form for Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani drugs. 

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Environmental Laws Updates

Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2025  

With effect from 1st July, 2025, producers, importers, and brand owners should include the prescribed information in a barcode or Quick Response (QR) code printed on the plastic packaging; in the product information brochure; print on the plastics packaging the unique number issued under any law for the time being in force. Provision for failure to comply with the provisions of the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 has also been added by the amendment Rules.

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Registration Form issued by NPCB for Lead Acid Battery Dealers

Registration form for dealers dealing with Lead Acid Batteries has been issued by the Nagaland Pollution Control Board (NPCB) on 24th January 2025. 

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Updation of categorization of industries - Kerala State Pollution Control Board (KPCB)

The list of industries categorized as red, orange, green, and white based on pollution potential has been revised by the Kerala State Pollution Control Board. 

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Environment Protection (End-of-Life Vehicles) Rules, 2025

The Rules are based on the principle of extended producer responsibility (EPR) where producers of vehicles are given mandatory EPR targets for scrapping of end-of-life vehicles. The Rules cover all types of transport and non-transport vehicles, except agricultural tractor, agricultural trailer, combine harvester and power tiller.

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Collection of effluent samples from industries discharging effluent having COD of more than the permissible limit into CETP inlet

All Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) should regularly submit their information about defaulting industries to respective Regional Officer and Sub Regional Officer in the first week of every month. CETP management is also authorized to impose penal charges against their defaulting member industries as per the CPCB guidelines.

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Classification of sectors into Red, Orange, Green, White and Blue Categories – CPCB report

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has issued a report for classification of sectors based on pollution load, scale of operation, production technology and type of fuel used. A new blue category has also been introduced to distinguish the ‘essential environmental services’ required for management of environmental concerns arising from anthropogenic pollution due to domestic/household activities.

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Extension of deadline for filing annual returns by producers of batteries

The timeline for filing of annual returns by producers of batteries for financial year 2023-24 has been extended till 31st March, 2025.

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Guidelines for collection, handling, transportation and storage of Used Oil by collection agent under Used Oil Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Framework

This guideline provides the framework for the safe and environmentally sound handling, storage and transportation of used oil by Collection Agents including regulatory requirements, standardized practices, minimal requisite facilities for collection, transportation and storage facilities.

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Corrigendum to Greenwashing guidelines

The Central Consumer Protection authority (CCPA) has issued a corrigendum to notify that the Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Greenwashing or Misleading Environmental Claims, 2024 will come into effect from the date of its publication, i.e. 15th October, 2024.

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Grant of authorization to all non-bedded healthcare units and healthcare units having less than 30 beds which generate biomedical waste - GPCB

The Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) has issued a notification regarding the grant of authorization at the regional office level under the Bio-medical Waste Management Rules, 2016 to all non-bedded healthcare units and all healthcare units having less than 30 beds which generate biomedical waste.

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Miscellaneous Laws Updates

Latest borewell safety rules in Madhya Pradesh

The Madhya Pradesh Khule Nalkup Mein Insanno Ke Girne Se Hone Wali Durghatnao Ki Rokthaam Evam Suraksha Niyam 2024 has been notified by the Government of Madhya Pradesh for the purpose of handling the issue of accidents that are on rise due to open borewells and tubewells across the State. 

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Online submission of application for fire safety approvals – Maharashtra

The Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) has issued a circular regarding submission of Form B as mandated under the Maharashtra Fire Prevention & Life Safety Measures Act 2006 through online SWC Portal of MIDC.

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Contributors to the newsletter:

• Prasanta Kumar Sahu, Partner
• Rashmi Vinod, Consultant