FSSAI issues guidelines for FCM-rPET

Guidelines specifying the accepted criteria for food-grade recycled polyethene terephthalate (rPET) used as food contact materials (FCMs) have been released by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). The FSSAI defines FCM-rPET as post-consumer food-grade PET resin that has undergone a validated decontamination process to achieve suitable purity for direct contact with food.

The guidelines specify that only certain recycling processes are acceptable for producing FCM-rPET. These include high-heat and high-vacuum processes, such as super-clean and melt-in, which effectively remove contaminants. Conventional mechanical recycling processes are not permitted due to their insufficient decontamination capabilities.

To ensure the safety of rPET packaging, the guidelines mandate specific testing procedures. These procedures assess the ability of the recycling process to remove contaminants and measure the amount of substances that can migrate from the rPET into food. Compliance with migration limits is essential to confirm that the recycled material does not pose a risk to consumer health.

Marking and labelling
The FSSAI has introduced a new logo for packaging materials made from recycled PET (rPET). According to the guidelines, all food contact materials made from rPET must display this logo, along with a statement confirming that the packaging is made from recycled PET.

The logo has been created to help identify rPET packaging as both safe and environmentally friendly.

The guidelines also require that the use of rPET in packaging complies with the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020. This includes clear and accurate labelling to ensure that consumers are fully informed about the packaging materials used. The logo is intended to make identification easier and support consumer awareness.

 

This is the logo prescribed by the Gazette notification, where FCM refers to food contact material; r refers to recycled; PET refers to polyethene terephthalate; and X will refer to the percentage of recycled resin used

Regulatory compliance and implementation
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has mandated that consumer goods companies ensure that 30% of category-1 packaging is made from recycled plastic by the financial year 2025–26. This includes rigid plastics used in PET packaging. The FSSAI's guidelines align with this directive, providing a framework for the safe and sustainable use of rPET in food packaging. These regulations came into effect from 1 April.

The guidelines state that conventional recycling processes will not be allowed, as such processes do not follow the decontamination process in manufacturing food contact materials.

The FSSAI has also established an authorisation process for manufacturers wishing to produce FCM-rPET. Operators of recycling processes and manufacturers of rPET must apply for and obtain authorisation from the FSSAI by submitting necessary information in the prescribed format. Upon approval, the applicant will be issued an authorisation letter, and the list of authorised recyclers will be published on the FSSAI website.

These measures aim to ensure that the use of recycled plastics in food packaging is safe, sustainable, and compliant with regulatory standards, thereby protecting consumer health and promoting environmental sustainability.