LG and Samsung Take Legal Action Against Indian Government Over E-Waste Pricing Rules
LG and Samsung Challenge India’s E-Waste Policy in Court Over Pricing Dispute
South Korean electronics giants LG and Samsung have filed legal petitions against the Indian government, seeking to overturn a policy that mandates higher payouts to electronic-waste recyclers. The companies argue that the pricing regulation poses a threat to their business operations in the country. The lawsuits are part of a broader wave of legal challenges from major players in the industry who say the new rules, though environmentally motivated, could create an undue financial burden.
The cases are scheduled to be heard on Tuesday, along with other petitions filed by corporations facing similar concerns. This legal action signals a growing conflict between global manufacturers and the administration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi over India’s tightening environmental standards. While the government aims to bring structure and accountability to its waste management systems, companies fear rising compliance costs and supply chain disruptions.
India is currently the world’s third-largest generator of e-waste, following China and the United States. However, only about 43 percent of the country’s e-waste was formally recycled last year, according to government data. The sector remains largely unregulated, with informal scrap dealers handling roughly 80 percent of the processing. In response, the government introduced a policy to establish a minimum floor price to encourage formalization and investment in the recycling industry.
Despite earlier lobbying efforts, LG and Samsung now join other firms such as Daikin, Havells, and Voltas in taking legal action. The government maintains that the pricing mandate is essential for building a sustainable and efficient e-waste ecosystem, but the companies remain firm in their stance that the regulation is impractical and damaging to business. As the legal battle unfolds, the outcome could shape the future of India’s e-waste policy and its relationship with foreign manufacturers.