GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 921
ANSWERED ON: 22.07.2022
Use of Recycled Plastic Waste in Food Packing
Umesh G. Jadhav
Annasaheb Shankar Jolle
S. Muniswamy
Jaisiddeshwar Shivacharya Mahaswamiji
Sanganna Amarappa Karadi
Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:-

(a) whether Chemical Industry Experts have raised questions on the provision made for use of recycled plastic waste in food packing in the existing Amendment rules under the Food Safety and Standard Act, 2006;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government would reconsider allowing recycled plastic waste in food packing considering the issues raised, through further amendments in the rules and regulations; and

(d) if not, the precautionary measures proposed to be taken by the Government to address the concerns raised?

ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

(DR. BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)

(a) to (d): Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has informed that the draft “Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Amendment Regulations, 2022” for the use of recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in food packaging and “Guidelines for recycling of post-consumer PET for food contact applications & Acceptance criteria for recycled PET resin for food contact applications” have been notified at https://fssai.gov.in/upload/uploadfiles/files/Draft_Notification_Packaging_24_05_2022.pdf.

The standards proposed for recycled PET are the same as the standards for virgin PET.