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FSSAI gazette notifies new pkg stds, replacing pkg requirements in FSSR
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Monday, 07 January, 2019, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Ashwani Maindola, New Delhi
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Food business operators (FBOs) will now have to take responsibility of ensuring that the packaging material supplier is providing safe and food-grade material complying with the standards laid down in the regulations prescribed in the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018.
FSSAI, India’s apex food regulator, has gazette notified the new packaging regulations, replacing all provisions regarding packaging requirements prescribed in the FSS (Packaging and Labelling) Regulations, 2011.
The new regulations aim to adopt standards which will regulate different packaging components, such as plastics, glass, paper, metal, printing inks, etc. across the packaging supply chain.
In December 2018, FSSAI had stated that it would issue comprehensive all-inclusive standards shortly, and these will prohibit used plastic of any type as well as recycled material for the purpose of packaging food.
The apex food regulator, in the new standards, would incorporate the BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) norms for packaging as well. They were voluntary until now, but after the gazette notification, it will be binding upon FBOs to adhere to these.
They give general and specific requirement with respect to packaging materials for food products, as well as prescribe the overall migration and specific migration limits of contaminants for packaging materials. They shall come into force from July 1, 2019.
The regulations also specify the suggestive list of packaging materials for different food product categories. As per these regulations, the packaging materials used for packing or storing the food products shall conform to the Indian standards provided in the schedules.
With these new regulations coming in place, FBOs have to take responsibility that the packaging material supplier is providing the safe and food grade material complying with the standards provided in the regulations, while the stakeholders; consultation and mass awareness building amongst consumers and food businesses would precede the implementation of the new packaging regulations.
Also, taking cognisance of the carcinogenic effect of inks and dyes, these regulations also prohibit the use of newspaper and such other materials for packing or wrapping of food articles and include the respective Indian standards for printing inks for use on food packages.
Further, these regulations prohibit packaging material made of recycled plastics, including carry bags for packaging, storing, carrying or dispensing articles of food.
According to the Food Safety Standards Authority of India, the industry needs to follow an integrated approach to packaging safety, wherein information and knowledge needs to be shared across all partners of the supply chain to ensure consumer safety.
The apex food regulator, in its statement, said that these regulations address all concerns that came out of the two studies conducted by FSSAI recently through the Indian Institute of Packaging (IIP), Mumbai, and the National Test House (NTH), Kolkata.
These two studies had shown that the packaging material used by the organised sector was largely safe, but there were concerns about the use of packaging material by the unorganised/informal sector.
“Further, there were serious concerns about safety of loose packaging material. Thus, these regulations prohibit packaging material made of recycled plastics including carry bags for packaging, storing, carrying or dispensing articles of food,” said the statement released by FSSAI.
Pawan Kumar Agarwal, chief executive officer, FSSAI, opined that the new packaging regulations would raise the bar of food safety in India to the next level.
“There would be difficulties in implementation of these regulations, particularly for the unorganised sector. Thus, sufficient lead time of about six months has been given before the regulations come into force,” he added.
Agarwal said, “The primary objective of packaging is to protect the food contents from microbiological, chemical, physical and atmospheric contamination and preserve the food and thereby protect consumer’s health.”
“Good packaging also ensures that there is no change in sensory properties or composition of food when packed. Packaging is essential and critical for promoting food safety, extended shelf-life and thereby enhancing food security,” he added.
“Recognising the importance of packaging in the food sector and its impact on food safety, the packaging regulations have been separated from the labelling regulations and a separate scientific panel for food packaging is planned,” he added.
Packaging has been always considered as a protection for food, but has been overlooked as a source of potential contaminants.
As packaging plays an important role in ensuring food safety, and it is the primary contact material through which migration of harmful substances may occur, and it may affect food quality and safety both at the same time. Therefore, to ensure that packed food is safe, FSSAI has proposed these regulations.
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Focus/through
Institute
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Failure
(Overall and by packaging material)
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Migration
of chemical contamination and heavy metals from packaging
materials through
IIP,
Mumbai
Total
samples analysed:
1,250
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Organised
sector:
870 samples; Overall failure:
0.2
per
cent
Only
two
samples
were found non-conforming in overall
migration
(laminated
pouch being used for frozen
fish and
plastic
cap of PET Jar being used for pickles)
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Unorganised
sector:
380 samples; Overall failure:
13.4
per
cent.
Fifty-one
samples
were found non-conforming in heavy
metal contaminant (plastic
pouches/lids/
closures/containers/bottles/laminates/bags,
etc.,
woven
bags,
laminates,
aluminium
foil,
etc.)
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Chemical
contamination from loose packaging material through National Test
House (NTH), Kolkata
Total
samples analysed:
1,760
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No
failure
Paper
cups for tea, plastic
cups - drinking water, thermocol glasses/plates
and
transparent
disposable containers with lids.
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Less
than five
per cent failure
in overall
migration:
Paper
cups for ice creams (2.4
per
cent),
plastic
glasses
with
lids (3.2 per
cent),
disposable plastic containers (0.9
per
cent)
and
zip
lock pouches (0.7
per
cent).
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More
than five
per cent failure
in overall
migration:
Coloured
carry bags (80
per
cent),
black
carry bags (59
per
cent),
disposable
containers with aluminium
coating (24
per
cent),
sweet
boxes
(21 per
cent),
paper
plates (16
per
cent),
polythene
pouches (11
per
cent),
plastic
cups
for
tea/coffee
(six
per cent)
and
plastic
spoons
with shiny
coating (six
per cent).
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Meanwhile, commenting on the subject, Jatin Takkar, industry expert, said that the new regulation was the need of the hour, and adopting a new set of rules for packaging safety will not only help the packaging industry to evolve in terms of food safety, but also in terms of operational safety as well as environmental safety. The standards will also bridge the gap between regulations across the globe, and therefore, will deploy more opportunities for export.
“In my opinion, the upcoming standard will certainly raise the bar on packaging safety, but yes, there are opportunities to make it more robust and at par with global standards. However, standards will evolve with time with the increase of awareness levels, capabilities of the packaging supply chain partners and evolving of robust enforcement measures in India. I would say that there is definitely a big way to go when you compare it to the European or US regulatory framework, but looking into the new packaging safety regulation, it definitely sends out a positive message in terms of packaging safety,” he added.
Takkar said,“I don’t think there would be any major conflict arising out of the new regulation for the food industry, since the packaging supply chain partners are quite evolved and solutions are available in the market.”
“The IS standards which have been adopted by FSSAI have already been published by BIS for years now, and supply chain partners are more or less aligned with the same. The standard will definitely have a positive impact on consumer safety, with more and more FBOs moving in this direction,” he added.
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