The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) released guidelines on May 23, 2025, for using recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate (rPET) in food packaging, stipulating that it must meet strict safety and quality standards to be deemed safe. This notification is under clause (e) of sub-regulation (4) of regulation 4 of the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018, to ensure that recycled PET in food packaging meets stringent safety and quality standards.
Why is Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Important?
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is an important material for its versatility, recyclability, and excellent properties. It's widely used in packaging, textiles, and various industries. PET also offers durability, lightweight, and energy efficiency. This clear plastic is commonly used in beverage bottles and food packaging. Although it’s 100% recyclable, rPET wasn’t previously permitted for use in food contact due to safety concerns over contamination. Compliance with food safety and regulatory standards now enables the safe use of rPET in food-grade applications. Here’s why it’s important for Consumers, Brands, and the Planet:
For Brands: The approval of food-safe rPET enables companies to pursue sustainability initiatives with regulatory support. This means 100% recycled, food safety packaging is now available, helping brands work towards their sustainability goals and connect with environmentally conscious customers.
For Consumers: It’s a safer and more transparent system that allows consumers to confidently consume beverages in recycled packaging, assured to meet strict safety protocols.
For the Planet: India generates significant plastic waste, and these rPET regulations support a circular economy by reducing landfill pressure and promoting resource conservation.
What are the Guidelines for rPET in Food Packaging?
FSSAI defines FCM-rPET as post-consumer, food-grade PET resin that has been decontaminated through a validated process to comply with national and international standards for direct food contact.
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Food-grade recycled PET (FG rPET) is the only PET that has been properly used for food contact. According to US, EU, or similar standards to be safe for this used for items that come into contact with food.
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Approved PET recycling processes include super-clean recycling, which involves using heat and vacuum to remove contaminants, and melt-in recycling, where PET flakes are decontaminated during the melting. Paste-in recycling applies chemical methods like glycolysis and distillation for purification. Enhanced chemical recycling completely breaks down PET into its basic components, allowing for polymerization into high-quality material.
What are the Process Requirements?
The guidelines establish requirements to ensure the purity and safety of recycled PET for food contact materials. These input materials must meet minimum quality standards, and FCM-rPET Resin can be controlled based on process validation criteria identified by the challenge test. The process Continuous monitoring and chemical analysis by the process operator are also required to maintain the quality of recycled food contact PET over time.
What is the Mandatory Validation of Recycling?
Companies must validate the source of recycled PET from any vendor to ensure compliance with safety standards. This involves eliminating contaminants according to the standards outlined by the FSSAI, guidelines, and adhering to accepted standards like EFSA or USFDA.
Compliance requirements:
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Documenting decontamination processes
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Rigorous testing & migration studies
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A Scientific validation report
Conclusion
Compliance has been turned from a passive approach to requiring active proof. Businesses must now actively prove that food contact packaging is safe, traceable, and disclosed to consumers. The latest guidelines from the FSSAI represent a major step and mark a significant advancement toward sustainability and These guidelines focus on innovation, safety, and environmental responsibility.
With Ricago’s tech-driven compliance solutions, businesses can easily manage documentation, traceability, and regulatory reporting. As packaging standards rise, Ricago helps brands stay compliant, build trust, and lead responsibly in the evolving landscape.
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