India prohibits the export of specified unsorted lithium-ion battery waste and scrap, including “black mass,” placing it under a prohibited export policy effective immediately. Multiple outlets report the move is issued through a DGFT notification under India’s foreign trade framework.
The coverage agrees that the policy targets waste categories previously eligible for export under a “Free” classification, and that exporters can no longer ship the covered materials under that category. Several reports say the intent is to direct battery waste to domestic recycling so critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt and nickel can be recovered within India.
Outlets differ mainly in emphasis and added context. Some focus on the supply-chain goal of strengthening domestic recycling and battery manufacturing inputs, while others highlight the regulatory mechanism and the categories included in the restriction (such as unsorted waste/scrap and the treatment of eligible export commitments). Overall, the core facts—DGFT involvement, immediate effect, and the rationale tied to domestic recycling—are consistent across sources.
