FSSAI’s Supervision on Recycled Plastics

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued regulations regarding the use of recycled plastics under Section 16 (5) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, related to the operationalization of Draft Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Amendment Regulations, 2022.

In exercise of the power conferred under section 92 of the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, FSSAI had framed the Draft Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Amendment Regulations, 2022 permitting the use of recycled plastics as food contact materials based on the Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2021 notified on 17.09.2021 and the recommendations of Scientific panel/ committee.

FSSAI has cleared that the above-mentioned draft amendment regulations are in the process of getting approval by the Food Authority, draft publication and its final notification seems to take more time. Meanwhile, to allow the FBOs to make use of recycled plastics as food contact materials, it has been decided to initialize 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, asProducts made of recycled plastics including carrying bags may be used for packaging, storing, carrying or dispensing 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.”

correspondingly, the approved guidelines for recycling of post-consumer PET for food contact applications and acceptance criteria for recycled PET resin for food contact applications (Annexure-1) is also made effective for execution.

Notably, this issues with the approval of the competent authority, in the exercise of the power vested under the Section 18(2)(d) read with 16(5) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.