India Prohibits Export Of Lithium-Ion Battery Black Mass Under Revised DGFT Policy

The Government of India has revised its export policy for specific categories of battery waste and scrap, prohibiting the export of unsorted spent lithium-ion batteries and related materials classified under ITC (HS) Code 85491400. The decision has been announced by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry through the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) under Notification No. 49/2026-27, dated November 10, 2026.

The notification introduces a significant change in the export regulations governing waste and scrap of primary cells, primary batteries and electric accumulators. It specifically covers unsorted spent primary cells, spent primary batteries and spent electric accumulators that do not contain lead, cadmium or mercury. These materials are classified under the category of Lithium-ion Battery Black Mass within ITC (HS) Code 85491400.

Under the earlier export policy, the specified category of battery waste was classified as “Free”, allowing exporters to ship these materials outside India without a specific export prohibition. However, through the latest notification, the government has changed its export classification from “Free” to “Prohibited”. This amendment effectively prevents the export of the covered battery waste materials from India.

The revised policy has come into immediate effect from November 10, 2026. The notification has been issued under the provisions of Section 3, read with Section 5 of the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992, along with the applicable provisions of the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP), 2023.

The notification also refers to transitional arrangements under Para 1.05 of the Foreign Trade Policy, 2023, wherever applicable. These provisions will govern relevant transitional cases arising from the implementation of the revised export policy.

The decision represents a regulatory step towards strengthening domestic control over battery waste and recycling materials. Lithium-ion battery black mass is an important intermediate material in battery recycling, as it contains valuable minerals and metals that can be recovered and processed for reuse in battery manufacturing and other industrial applications.

By restricting exports of the specified battery waste category, the government aims to retain these resources within the domestic market and support the development of India’s battery recycling and critical mineral processing ecosystem. The move could also encourage greater investment in domestic recycling facilities, material recovery technologies and processing infrastructure.

The policy revision comes as India seeks to strengthen its domestic battery supply chain and reduce dependence on imported critical minerals. It highlights the government’s increasing focus on managing battery waste as a strategic resource while supporting the country’s long-term energy storage, electric mobility and clean energy manufacturing objectives.