Page 38 - Plastcs News January 2019

FeAtures

12 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART III—SEC.4]
Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by clause (k) of sub-section (2) of section 92, read with
section 23 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (34 of 2006) and in supersession of the Food Safety and Standards
(Packaging and Labelling) Regulations, 2011, in so far as they relate to the packaging regulations, except as respects
things done or omitted to be done before such supersession, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India hereby
makes the following regulations, namely:-
Regulations
1. Short Title and Commencement.- (1) These regulations may be called the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging)
Regulations, 2018.
(2) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette and Food Business Operator shall
comply with all the provisions of these regulations by 1st July, 2019.
2. Definitions.- (1) In these regulations unless the context otherwise requires:-
(a) “Act” means the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (Act 34 of 2006);
(b) “food grade” means material made of substances which are safe and suitable for their intended use,
and shall not endanger human health or result in unacceptable change in the composition of the food or
organoleptic characteristics;
(c) “multilayer/composite food packaging” means a food packaging material composed of two or more
layers of same or different types of packaging materials specified under these regulations;
(d) “overall migration limit” means the maximum permitted amount of non-volatile substances released
from a material or article into food simulants;
(e) “package or container” means a pre-packaged box, bottle, casket, tin, barrel, case, pouch, receptacle,
sack, bag, wrapper or such other things in which an article of food is packed;
(f) “packaging material” means materials such as cardboard, paper, glass, metal, plastic, multi-layer
packaging material used for packaging of food products;
(g) “primary food packaging” means packaging material in direct contact with food products;
(h) “secondary food packaging” means packaging material which encloses the primary food packaging

and does not come in direct contact with food products;
(i) “specific migration limit” means the maximum permitted amount of a given substance released from a
material or article into food or food simulants.
(2) All other words and expressions used herein and not defined, but defined in the Act, rules or regulations
made thereunder, shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Act, rules or regulations, respectively.
3. General Requirements.- (1) Every food business operator shall ensure that the packaging material used shall be in
accordance with these regulations:
Provided where Indian Standards are not available, then relevant International Standards may be complied with.

(2) Any material which comes in direct contact with food or likely to come in contact with food used for packaging,
preparation, storing, wrapping, transportation and sale or service of food shall be of food grade quality.

(3) Packaging materials shall be suitable for the type of product, the conditions provided for storage and the equipment for
filling, sealing and packaging of food as well as transportation conditions.
(4) Packaging materials shall be able to withstand mechanical, chemical or thermal stresses encountered during normal
transportation. In case of flexible or semi-rigid containers, an overwrap packaging may be necessary.
(5) Food products shall be packed in clean, hygienic and tamper-proof package or container.

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