India Launches First Standard for Paper-Based Food Contact Materials to Ensure Consumer Safety

In a significant move to enhance food safety, India’s Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has launched a public consultation on the country’s first-ever standard for paper-based materials used in the delivery and serving of food and drink. The consultation, which is open until December 30, 2024, aims to establish clear guidelines to ensure that food packaging and materials that come into direct or indirect contact with food are safe for human consumption. 

Purpose of the Standard 

The standard focuses on setting limits for the migration of substances from packaging into food and beverages. It defines the "overall migration limit," which measures the maximum allowed amount of non-volatile substances, such as monomers, additives and pigments, that can leach from paper-based materials into food. This measure aims to protect consumers from exposure to harmful chemicals. 

Testing Requirements 

Under the proposed guidelines, paper-based materials intended for food contact must pass an overall migration test, as outlined in Indian Standard (IS) 9845. This applies to conditions where the food contact time is less than 24 hours. The migration of non-volatile substances from the material layer must not exceed 60 mg/kg and there must be no visible color migration during the test. 

Proposed Migration Limits for Substances  

The proposed standard sets specific migration limits for various heavy metals and chemicals, including:

Scope of the Proposed Standard 

The migration limits will apply to both direct and indirect food contact materials (FCMs), including items such as wraps, bags, pouches, carton boxes, plates, trays, cups, and bowls used for serving or delivery. However, the new standard does not cover materials intended for long-term food storage. 

Material Requirements 

The proposed standard has strict material requirements for paper-based products. Only virgin pulp is allowed in the manufacturing process, and materials must be free from optical brightening agents. Coating materials used on the paper must be derived from bio-based polymers such as PLA, PBS or PHA, or be made from water/solvent-based emulsions. 

Labelling Requirements 

Any paper-based material intended for food or beverage should be clearly labelled with essential information, including the source of manufacture, batch number, and the date of manufacture. Furthermore, any claims of compostability must be substantiated by a registration number from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), along with an approved QR code. 

Towards Safer Food Contact Materials 

This initiative by BIS is an important step towards ensuring the safety and quality of food contact materials in India, with the aim of protecting consumers from potential health risks associated with harmful chemicals in food packaging. During the consultation period, stakeholders are encouraged to provide feedback to help finalize this important standard, which aims to ensure that food contact materials are safe, effective and environmentally responsible. 

For more details, the proposed standard can be accessed here.