Used Lithium-Ion Batteries Export Banned to Promote Domestic Recycling

Ø Export of Battery Waste and Scrap of Unsorted and Not Containing Lead, Cadmium or Mercury (Lithium-Ion Battery Black Mass) in HS Code 8549 1400 Prohibited with Immediate Effect

Centre Bans Export of Battery Waste, including Lithium-Ion Black Mass

The DGFT has changed the export policy for specified battery waste and scrap under ITC (HS) code 85491400 from 'Free' to 'Prohibited', with immediate effect.

The Centre on Tuesday (10.11.2026) prohibited the export of waste and scrap of primary cells, primary batteries and electric accumulators, including lithium-ion battery black mass, with immediate effect.

The move comes as the government seeks to strengthen domestic battery recycling capacity and secure supplies of critical minerals. Black mass, produced by shredding used lithium-ion batteries, contains valuable materials such as lithium, cobalt and nickel, which can be recovered for use in new batteries.

The government said in October that India's capacity to process black mass and extract these minerals remains limited, with some of the material being exported without its valuable minerals being recovered. Under its ₹1,500-crore incentive scheme for critical mineral recycling, launched in September, the government is seeking to expand domestic capacity to recover such materials from spent batteries and electronic waste.

[DGFT Notification No. 49/2026-27 dated 10 November, 2026]

Effect of this notification: The export policy of Waste and scrap of primary cells, primary batteries and electric accumulators; spent primary cells, spent primary batteries and spent electric accumulators - Unsorted and not containing lead, cadmium or mercury (Lithium-Ion Battery Black Mass) under ITC (HS) Code 85491400 is amended from 'Free' to 'Prohibited' with immediate effect, until further orders.

Subject: Amendment in Export Policy of Waste and Scrap of .Primary Cells, Primary Batteries and Electric Accumulators (Lithium-Ion Battery Black Mass) under ITC {HS) 85491400 - regarding.

S.O. (E): The Central Government, in exercise of powers conferred by Section 3 read with Section 5 of the Foreign Trade (Development & Regulation) Act, 1992 (No. 22 of 1992), as amended, read with Para 1.02 and 2.01 of the Foreign Trade Policy, 2023, hereby amends the export policy of the item under Chapter 85 of ITC (HS), Schedule - II of Export Policy as under:

ITC (HS) Code	Description	Existing Policy	Revised Policy
8549 1400	Waste and scrap of primary cells, primary batteries and electric accumulators; spent primary cells, spent primary batteries and spent electric accumulators: - Unsorted and not containing lead, cadmium or mercury	Free	Prohibited

2. This Notification shall come into effect immediately. The provisions of Para 1.05 of the Foreign Trade Policy, 2023 regarding transitional arrangement shall be applicable under this Notification.

(Issued from File No. 01/91/180/026/AM22/EC)