FSSAI issues directions regarding the use of recycled plastics as food contact material; operationalizes provision under Draft FSS (Packaging) Amendment Regulations, 2022

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (“FSSAI”) has issued directions regarding the use of recycled plastics as food contact material by operationalizing provision under Draft Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Amendment Regulations, 2022.

FSSAI has clarified that the above-mentioned draft amendment regulations are in the process of approval by the Food Authority, as a result of which the draft publication and its final notification are likely to take some more time. Meanwhile, to allow the FBOs to make use of recycled plastics as food contact materials, it has been decided to operationalize the provision of Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Amendment Regulations, 2022, with immediate effect, as below:

In regulation 4 of Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018, sub- regulation (4)(e) shall be substituted, as products made of recycled plastics including carry bags may be used for packaging, storing, carrying, or dispensing of food products as and when standards and guidelines are framed by the Food Authority. Such packaging materials shall also comply with any other national standards/regulations as applicable.

Accordingly, an approved guidelines for recycling of post-consumer PET [polyethylene terephthalate] for food contact applications and acceptance criteria for recycled PET resin for food contact applications is also made effective for implementation.

Key highlights of the guideline are as follows:

1. The guideline contains provisions regarding recycling procedure for transforming post-consumer PET bottles used for food packing into food-grade recycled PET resins suitable for making bottles and packaging materials for bottling or packaging and its testing.
2. It covers the accepting criteria for using food grade recycled PET resin materials in bottling or packaging operations.
3. It does not apply to industrial rejected PET bottles.
4. It does not apply to production of resins for non-food grade consumer applications.

For further details please refer the attached document.

Source: Food Safety and Standards Authority of India