The regulations refer to particular migration limits of Phthalic acid and Antinomy, Bis(2-Ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and packaging of drinking water.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has urged the apex food regulatory body, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to settle the draft Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Amendment Regulations, 2020 within 3 months.
Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel, chairperson of NGT said that the issue of the use of multi-layered plastic packages for bottles of liquor, carbonated soft drinks and other items also needs to be further studied by the concerned authorities.
The regulations refer to particular migration limits of Phthalic acid and Antinomy, Bis(2-Ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and packaging of drinking water.
An NGO named Him Jagriti Uttaranchal Welfare Society filed a petition to the NGT, looking to ban the usage of plastic bottles and multi-layered/plastic packages /pet bottles.
Use of plastics, including multi-layered packs such as Tetra Packs and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles, have adverse impacts on environment and health, the petition said.
The Directorate General Of Health Services informed the NGT that the Ministry of Health has issued draft regulations to prohibit the use of plastic containers or Polyethylene Terephthalate in liquid oral formulations for primary packaging of drug formulations for geriatric use, pediatric use and for use in case of pregnant women and women of reproductive age group.
In view of the norms of plastic packaging and primary containers of pharmaceuticals, all closures and containers intended for use shall comply with the Pharmacopeia and other specified requirements.
The tribunal said that with respect to the revision of the Pharmacopeia, the adverse health impact of plastic packaging has been regulated to an extent.
Ashwin Bhadri, CEO of Equinox Labs, said, “We all know the horrific effects of plastic pollution. It can take hundreds (even thousands) of years for plastic to break down so the environmental damage is long-lasting. It impacts all organisms in the food chain from tiny species to whales. It is estimated that approximately 100,000 marine animals die each year because they mistake plastic for food.”