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Panel asks Dept of Chemicals to work with FSSAI to protect human health from plastic contamination of packaged foods
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Monday, 16 February, 2026, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Gireesh Babu, New Delhi
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The Parliamentary Panel on Chemicals and Fertilisers have asked the Department of Chemicals and Fertilisers to work in close coordination with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to protect human health from the risk of plastic contamination from food packages, rather than running away from its responsibilities.
The recommendation comes in the backdrop of the panel's observation that in the country 60% of our food containers have BPA which causes not only reproductive and fertility issues but also cancer. Further, BPA was also responsible for obesity particularly amongst children.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Chemicals and Fertilisers, in its 18th report on action taken by the Government on the observations/recommendations contained in the 13th Report of the Standing Committee on Chemicals and Fertilisers (Eighteenth Lok Sabha) on ‘Health hazards due to use of compromised/substandard quality of food-grade plastics and their exposure to extreme Indian climatic conditions’ of the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, directed the Department to work closely with the FSSAI to eliminate plastic migration during transportation of edible items such as pickles.
FSSAI is coordinating with Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), New Delhi, to carry out a study on the risk assessment of the impact of microplastics on human health, and has launched a project on micro-and nano-plastics as emerging food contaminants and establishing validated methodologies and understanding the prevalence in different food matrices. The research, started in March, 2024, is expected to be completed by March, 2026.
The panel recommended that the project may invariably be completed by the deadline set by the department. While sampling and analysing of the package of food products from Rajasthan, Kerala and Uttar Pradesh was in progress, the department did not furnish any information to the panel.
Further, the department has submitted that according to FSSAI, the impact of micro plastics on human health is not yet scientifically established, as such more studies need to be carried out.
"The committee therefore also recommends that further studies be expedited and all necessary action may be taken in the matter and they may be apprised accordingly," said the panel headed by Kirti Azad Jha, Member of Parliament, in the latest report.
The panel, in its previous report, recommended that a specific authority should ensure that the migration in food products/pickles packed in plastic packaging was as per permissible limits and it was indeed fit for human consumption.
The department, in the action taken replies, stated that activities related to manufacturing, processing, packaging, storage, transportation and distribution of food including quality of plastics material coming in contact with food products was regulated by FSSAI.
"The committee does agree with the contention of the department. However, the department can not absolve of its responsibility to protect human health from the risk of plastic contamination by merely submitting this fact. As such the committee recommends that instead of running away from its responsibilities the department should work in close coordination with FSSAI for eliminating plastic migration during transportation of edible items/pickles etc.," said the panel.
"The committee would like to be apprised of the step taken by the department in this regard," it added.
The panel has earlier observed that 'styrene', a group of 28 carcinogens, was responsible for increased cases of cancer in the country. In a nutshell, metabolic syndromes like obesity, reproductive as well as fertility issues, cancer may be linked to the consumption of microplastics.
Apart from these risks, studies have shown microplastics being found in human placenta indicating wide spread migration of plastics in the human body. The committee, therefore, recommended that elimination of plastic and nano-plastic from our day to day life is the dire need of the hour to tackle the plastic menace which is looming large over the country.
The committee, therefore, recommended that to curb the menace collective wisdom of the department, Bureau of Indian Standards and FSSAI may result in a roadmap with concrete measures and implementation in letter and spirit of the present regulations are required to save the citizens and also their future generations.
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