On 2 November 2026, FSSAI notified the draft amendments to the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018. The authority has invited stakeholders and members of the public to submit their objections and suggestions within 60 days of the Gazette notification being made available.

Chemical recycling of PE and PP

The proposed amendments allow manufacturers to use chemically recycled PE and PP produced through the monomer route in food-contact materials, provided the final products meet the safety standards prescribed for virgin plastics. The draft requires manufacturers to ensure that chemically recycled PE and PP match virgin materials in quality and comply with the applicable safety criteria before using them in food-contact applications.

FSSAI has based this provision on chemical recycling processes defined under Indian Standard IS 14534. However, the proposal does not extend permission to all recycled plastics or recycling methods.

Recycled plastics in multilayer packaging

FSSAI has also proposed allowing recycled polymers derived exclusively from food-grade packaging materials in the outermost layer of multilayer food packaging. Multilayer packaging combines different materials to protect food products and extend their shelf life. Under the proposed provision, manufacturers may use recycled polymers in the outermost layer only if the inner layers provide adequate barriers to prevent substances from migrating into food.

The draft further requires such packaging to comply with the existing migration limits prescribed for packaging materials. This means manufacturers must ensure that the inner layers effectively prevent substances from the recycled outer layer from reaching the food. The final packaging must also meet the applicable migration requirements.

Public consultation on the draft

FSSAI issued the draft Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Amendment Regulations, 2026, under Section 92 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The authority has invited stakeholders and members of the public to submit their objections and suggestions within 60 days of the Gazette notification being made available. FSSAI will consider the proposed amendments after this consultation period before finalising the regulations.

The proposal aims to expand the use of recycled plastics in food packaging while maintaining safety requirements for materials that come into contact with food.

Source: South First