The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare vide on 18th January 2021 has notified the Draft Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) First Amendment Regulations, 2021 to further amend the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018.
The Amendment is brought under regulation 4 which deals with specific Requirements for Primary food packaging in which sub-clause 4 states that the Plastic materials used for the manufacturing of containers for packing or storing the food products shall conform to either of the Indian Standards specifications, provided as provided in Schedule – III:
Provided that Drinking Water (both Packaged and Mineral Water) shall be packed in colourless, transparent and tamper-proof bottles or containers made of polyethylene (PE) conforming to IS. The transparency of a container shall not be less than 85 percent in light transmittance.
Provided further that other food-grade packaging materials compatible with the water to be packaged may also be used. In such cases requirements of transparent bottle would not apply.
FSSAI has invited Objections or suggestions from the public which may be addressed to the Chief Executive Officer, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, Food and Drug Administration Bhawan, Kotla Road, New Delhi-110002 or send on email regulation@fssai.gov.in.
