FSSAI approves recycled PET usage for food packaging

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has notified the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) First Amendment Regulations, 2025, marking an important step towards the promotion of sustainable packaging practices in India.

The amendment was published in the Official Gazette on 28 March, which allows the use of recycled polyethene terephthalate (PET) for packaging, storing, carrying, or dispensing food products, subject to the condition that such materials comply with national standards or applicable regulations. 

The notification follows the publication of draft regulations dated 17 May 2022, inviting objections and suggestions from the persons likely to be affected thereby before the expiry of the period of sixty days from the date on which the copies of the Official Gazette containing the said notifications were made available to the public. The copies of the said Gazette were made available to the public on 24 May 2022. The objections and suggestions received from the public in respect of the said draft regulations have been considered by the FSSAI.

Under the amended Regulation 4(4)(e) of the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018, it stated, “Products made of recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) may be used for packaging, storing, carrying or dispensing of food products as and when standards and guidelines are notified by the food authority and such packaging materials shall comply with national standards or regulations as applicable to such materials."

This regulatory update is a major milestone in fostering the use of safe and sustainable packaging materials in the food sector.