The government has restricted import of second-hand laptops, computers and other peripheral goods for charities to check dumping of electronic waste.

Second-hand computers, laptops and computer peripherals including printers, plotters, scanners, monitors, keyboards and storage units were earlier allowed to be imported freely for the purpose of donation to government schools, charitable hospitals, libraries, and publicly-funded R&D projects.

While such imports were restricted (but not banned) in general, community information centres, adult education centres run by government were also allowed to bring them in freely.

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade has put curbs on the imports following government's announcement in Parliament on April 19 that it would come out with an e-waste management and disposal rules.

Replying to supplementaries during the Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha, environment and forests minister Jairam Ramesh had said he was personally against import of second hand computers in the name of charity as this "e-waste" posed danger to environment and human health.

The environment ministry has prepared a draft for 'E-waste (Management and Handling) Rules 2010'.

Illegal recycling of used electronic goods like mobile phones and computers pose environmental and health hazard.