KOCHI: A Customs investigation is underway into a suspected import of e-waste from various countries in violation of the Customs Act and hazardous waste management rules. The consignment of photocopier machines shipped in around 80 containers was seized by Customs officers at Cochin port three months ago and is now detained here.
According to officers, the consignment was detained on suspicion it was brought to the country as e- waste. The Customs began investigation into the incident after officers noticed the shipment lacked the mandatory pre-shipment inspection and environmental clearance certificates.
A Kolkata-based agency had imported the consignment sourced from various countries, including England and Germany. Though the agency approached the High Court, it refused to intervene in the probe.
According to senior Customs officers, there is nothing unusual if the consignment was brought with the aim of selling the items in the domestic market. The agency was even willing to pay the 10 per cent fine and five per cent penalty of the total value of the consignment. However, the absence of some vital documents raised the suspicion it was a bid to dump the hazardous waste here, following which the investigation was ordered, said the officers.
The consignment will be examined by Customs officers with the help of one of the pre-shipment inspection agencies listed by the Director General of Foreign Trade. The DGFT stipulates a licence for importing second hand photocopiers - classified as hazardous waste.