FSSAI Drafts the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2017

\The FSSAI has issued a notice proposing a new packaging regulation and has invited stakeholders to send their comments, suggestions, and views within 60 days from 13 October 2017. The regulation is to be called the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2017.

In the regulations, the FSSAI has defined the terms related to packaging so that the terms like food grade, multilayer food packaging, overall migration limit, package or container, primary and secondary food packaging and specific migration limit are all clearly understood.

General Requirements

• An only food grade quality material must be used for packaging, preparation, storing, wrapping, transportation and sale or service of food shall be of food grade quality.
• The ink used for printing on food packages shall conform to IS: 15495
• Printed surface of packaging material must not come into direct contact with food products
• Newspaper or any such material shall not be used for storing and wrapping of food
• Tin containers once used, shall not be re-used for packaging of food
• Food products shall be packed in clean, hygienic and tamperproof bottles or containers.
• In case of multilayer packaging, the layer which comes in contact with food shall meet the requirements of packaging materials specified in Schedule I, II and III of these regulations.
• The materials listed in Schedule I, II and III of these regulations shall be compatible with their intended use as a packaging material which shall not alter the quality and safety of the food product.

Specific Requirements

1. Paper and board materials in contact with food products. Paper and board material shall be

• of uniform formation and thickness
• free from visible specks, grease marks, cuts, pinholes and other blemishes
• the paper used in boxes, cartons, plates, cups and paper lids or paper in direct contact with food shall be of food grade quality and free from dioxins
• Paper or board materials used for making packing and storing containers or for food must conform to the relevant Indian Standards specification as provided in Schedule-I.

2. Glass containers in contact with food products

Glass containers must be

• made either from colorless glass or glass with a slight tinge of color
• free from blisters, mold marks, stones and chippings and as far as possible shall be free from bubbles, cords, seeds and other visible defects
• smooth-surfaced without cracks, pinholes, sharp edges or broken bubbles
• sealing surface must be free from hairline cracks and prominent seam marks

3. Metal and Metal Alloys in contact with food products

The following types of utensil or containers must not be used in the preparation, packaging and storing as they will render the food unfit for human consumption. Do not use

• containers that are rusty
• enameled containers that are chipped and rusty
• copper or brass containers not properly tinned

Metal and metal alloys used for making containers for packing or storing the food products shall conform to the relevant Indian Standards specification as provided in Schedule – II.

4. Plastic materials in contact with food products

• Plastic materials used for making containers for packing or storing of food products shall conform to the relevant Indian Standards specification as provided in Schedule – III.
• Packaged Drinking Water and Mineral Water) must be packed in colourless, transparent and tamperproof bottles or containers made of polyethylene (PE) conforming to IS: 10146 or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) conforming to IS: 10151 or polyalkylene terephthalate (PET and PBT) conforming to IS: 12252 or polypropylene (PP) conforming to IS: 10910 or food grade polycarbonate or sterile glass bottles only.
• All packaging materials of plastic origin shall pass the prescribed overall migration limit of 60mg/kg or 10mg/dm2 as per IS 9845 with no visible color migration.
• Pigments or Colorants for use in plastics in contact with food products and drinking water shall conform to IS: 9833.
• The substances given in the table below must not be released in excess of the specific migration limit from plastic materials and articles into foods.

S.No

Contaminant

Maximum Migration Limit (mg/Kg)

Barium

1.0

Cobalt

0.05

Copper

5.0

iron

48.0

Lithium

0.6

Manganese

0.6

Zinc

25

The FSSAI has also listed suggestive packaging materials which may be used for packaging of food products falling under the specified categories is provided in Schedule – IV.

SCHEDULE I

Standards for Paper and board materials in contact with food products

1. Greaseproof paper – IS 6622
2. Vegetable parchment or Greaseproof

Paper/Aluminium Foil Laminate                           – IS7 161

3. Aluminium Foil Laminates for Packaging – IS 8970
4. General purpose packing/wrapping Paper – IS 6615
5. Folding Box Board, uncoated – IS 1776

Note: The wax used for coating the paper or board shall be paraffin wax conforming to Type I of IS 4654

SCHEDULE - II

Standards for Metal and Metal Alloys in contact with food products

1. Cold-reduced Electrolytic Tinplate – IS 1993
2. Wrought Aluminium and Aluminium Alloy

Sheet and Strip for General Engineering       – IS 737

3. Aluminium and Aluminium Alloy Bare Foil

for Food Packaging                                             – IS 15392

4. Wrought Aluminium and Aluminium Alloys

for manufacture of utensils                               – IS 21

5. Round Open Top Sanitary Cans for

Foods and Drinks                                                – IS 9396 – Part 1

                                                SCHEDULE – III

Standards for Plastic Materials in contact with food products

Sr. No

                                                   List of Standards

Specification for Polyethylene for its safe use in contact with foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals and drinking water – IS 10146

Specification for Polystyrene for its safe use in contact with foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals and drinking water – IS 10142

Specification for Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) and its copolymers for its safe use in contact with foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals and drinking water – IS 10151

Specification for Polypropylene and its copolymers for its safe use in contact with foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals and drinking water – IS 10910

Specification for Ionomer Resins for its safe use in contact with foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals and drinking water – IS 11434

Specification for Ethylene Acrylic Acid (EAA) copolymers for their safe use in contact with foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals and drinking water – IS 11704

Specification for Polyalkylene Terephthalates (PET & PBT) for their safe use in contact with foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals and drinking water - IS 12252

Specification for Nylon 6 Polymer for its safe use in contact with foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals and drinking water – IS 12247

Specification for Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) copolymers for its safe use in contact with foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals and drinking water – IS 13601

Specification for Ethylene Metha Acrylic Acid (EMAA) copolymers and terpolymers for its safe use in contact with foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals and drinking water – IS 13576

Specification for Polycarbonate Resins for its safe use in contact with foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals and drinking water – IS 14971

Specification for Flexible Packaging Materials for packaging of Edible Oils, Ghee and Vanaspati - IS 14636

Specification for Polyalkylene Terephthalates (PET & PBT) for Moulding and Extrusion – IS 13193

Specification for Polyethylene Films and Sheets – IS 2508

Specification for Linear Low Density Polyethylene (LLDPE) Films – IS 14500

Specification for High Density Polyethylene Materials for Moulding and Extrusion – IS 7328

Specification for Melamine-Formaldehyde Resins for its safe use in contact with foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals and drinking water – IS 14999

SCHEDULE – IV

List of suggestive packaging materials 

Milk and Milk Products

• Glass bottle with metal caps
• Rigid Plastic container made of PET with plastic (PP) caps.
• Rigid Plastic container made up of High-density polyethylene (HDPE)/ Polypropylene (PP) with Plastic (PP) caps
• Flexible plastic pouch made of polyethylene (PE) based co-extruded multi-layered material
• Aseptic and flexible packaging material (Paperboard/ Aluminium foil/polyethylene) based multi-layered structure
• Tinplate container
• Paper-based lined cartons with the liner made of aluminum foil based laminated structure
• Plastic-based PP cups with Peel-off lid
• Wax coated paper butter wrappers
• Paper & Paper Board based folding carton inside butter wrapped with butter paper.
• Metal Containers with plastic (PP) caps/metal or plastic lid
• Plastic pet container with plastic lid.
• Thermoform cup/tray with peel-off lids.
• Paper & Paper Board setup boxes with or without lamination –plastic film inside.
• Paper & Paper Board setup boxes with or without greaseproof paper placed inside.
• Plastic Based multi-layered flexible laminated heat sealed pouch
• Mud/clay pots

Fats, oils and fat emulsions

• Tinplate container
• Glass bottle with metal caps
• Plastic rigid container (jar) made of HDPE
• Plastic bottle/Jar (PET) with plastic caps
• Plastic Pouch made of Multilayered laminated structure
• Aseptic and flexible packaging material (Paperboard/ Aluminium foil/polyethylene) based multi-layered structure
• Plastic laminated pouch in duplex board box (Bag in Box)
• Thermoformed plastic based jar with plastic caps
• Paper-based lined cartons with the liner made of aluminum foil based laminated structure

Fruit and Vegetable products

• Glass bottle with metal/plastic caps
• Aluminium can with easy open end
• Tinplate container
• Aseptic and flexible packaging material (Paperboard/ Aluminium foil/polyethylene) based multi-layered structure
• Plastic rigid container (jar) made of either HDPE or Co-extruded structure with Plastic (PP) caps
• Stand Up Pouch made up of Plastic based structure with plastic spout
• Flexible Plastic pouch made of either PE or Laminated structure
• Thermoformed Plastic container (Blister Pack) with aluminum foil / PE based lid
• Plastic jar (Co-extruded) with metal caps
• Plastic trays with overwrap

Sweets and Confectionery

• Metal container with metal/plastic lid
• Plastic-based multi-layered laminated Heat sealed pouches.
• Composite containers made up of Paper Board/Aluminium foil/plastic base films with plastic/metal lids
• Plastic-based rigid containers
• Foil wrap
• Plastic film based twist wraps (PP/PVC/PET)
• Thermoformed tray with lid
• Glass bottle with metal/plastic caps
• Plastic cups with a film lid

Cereals and cereal products

• Tin container
• Aluminum Foil Based laminated pouch in a metal container.
• Wrapper made of wax-coated paper
• Wrapper made of the three-layered laminated structure.
• Plastic-based multi-layered laminated pouch (heat sealed).
• Plastic-based thermoform container with plastic lid.
• Lined carton with a liner made of the multi-layered laminated structure.
• Plastic-based multi-layered laminated structured Zipper Pouch.
• Thermoform trays with plastic lids/overwraps
• Glass bottle with metal caps

Meat and Meat Products

• Glass jars with plastic caps
• Metal Containers with metal lid (lacquered tin containers).
• Plastic based flexible pouches in paper & paper Board carton.
• Plastic-based multi-layered flexible laminates heat sealed pouches.
• Plastic tray with an overwrap
• Aluminum foil wrap

Fish and fish products

• Glass jars with plastic caps
• Metal Containers with metal lid (lacquered tin containers)
• PET punnets/containers with plastic caps
• Plastic-based multi-layered flexible laminates heat sealed pouches.
• Plastic tray with an overwrap

Sweetening agents including Honey

• Glass bottle with Metal Caps
• Plastic-based Thermoformed container
• Blister Pack with foil/polyethylene lid
• Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) container with Plastic Caps
• Plastic laminated Tube

Salt, spices, Condiments and related products

• Glass bottle with metal lid
• Glass bottle with plastic cap (PP Cap)
• Plastic-based rigid container with Plastic cap (PET & HDPE Containers).
• Paper & Paper board /Aluminium foil/Plastic Film based Composite Container.
• Folding cartons with Plastic based flexible laminated structure (heat sealed) pouch placed inside.
• Plastic-based multi-layered layered laminated pouch (heat sealed)

Beverages (other than Dairy and Fruits & vegetables based)

• Plastic bottles made of either PET or Polycarbonate (PC) with Plastic (Polypropylene - PP) caps.
• Heat sealed Plastic pouches made of Polyethylene (PE).
• Glass bottles with metal caps/plastic caps.
• Plastic pouches made up of Polyethylene (PE) in Corrugated fiberboard Boxes.
• Aluminum can with an easy open end.
• Tinplate container
• Plastic pouch made of the laminated structure.
• Aseptic and flexible packaging material (Paperboard/ Aluminium foil/polyethylene) based multi-layered structure.
• Plastic-based multi-layered structure heat sealed pouches.
• Plastic-based multi-layered structure heat sealed Zipper pouches / stand up pouches.
• Metal Container with metal/plastic lids
• Rigid Plastic container with plastic caps (PP Caps).
• Wooden cask (for wines).