FSSAI authorises six more rPET units

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has expanded the capacity for food-contact recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) by granting authorisation to six additional manufacturing units. The development brings the combined FSSAI-authorised capacity for rPET to 1.5 lakh tonnes per annum. 

Before the latest wave of authorisations, as of May, a mere five out of 20 rPET manufacturing units had secured FSSAI certification, creating bottlenecks and apprehension within the sector.

According to the Association of PET Recyclers (APR) Bharat, the FSSAI has acted swiftly in the last fortnight, issuing six authorisations, following persistent concerns raised by the industry body. Last month, APR had voiced anxieties that continued delays in authorising recycled PET factories were pushing a majority of companies towards potential bankruptcy.

The prompt commencement of production at these newly authorised plants is deemed critical to ensure an adequate supply of rPET in the market. This availability is vital for manufacturers to meet the regulatory guideline that mandates the use of 10% recycled content in PET packaging bottles.

The industry has already made a substantial commitment, with players setting up a total capacity of approximately four lakh tonnes, representing an estimated investment of INR 7,500­ to 8,000-crore, specifically for producing food-contact rPET material.

APR Bharat has commendably acknowledged the swift and decisive action taken by FSSAI's chief executive officer, G Kamala Vardhana Rao, and other senior officials in addressing their expressed concerns. This series of authorisations, the result of months of collaborative effort, is expected not only to ease the availability of food-grade rPET but also to bring much-needed stability to India’s burgeoning recycling industry.