Lok Sabha Question No. 2471 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-15
Subject: Plastic Packaging for Processed Food
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Nayab Singh

## Government of India

## Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Department of Consumer Affairs

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2471 (OIH) TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.03.2023

## PLASTIC PACKAGING FOR PROCESSED FOOD

2471. SHRI NAYAB SINGH: (OIH)

## Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) whether any effort has been made and policy framed by the Government to reduce the production of single-serve Plastic Packaging for Processed Food;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether any effort has been made by the Government to encourage the regular production of single-serve packaging for processed food; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k jkT; ea=h ( श्री अश्विनी कु मार चौबे )

## THE MINISTER OF STATE CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a) to (d) :  The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has notified the Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2021, on 12th August 2021, prohibiting the following identified single use plastic items, which have low utility and high littering potential, with effect from 1st July 2022:

- (i) ear  buds  with  plastic  sticks,  plastic  sticks  for  balloons,  plastic  flags,  candy  sticks,  ice-cream  sticks, polystyrene [Thermocol] for decoration;
- (ii) plates, cups, glasses, cutlery such as forks, spoons, knives, straw, trays, wrapping or packing films around sweet boxes, invitation cards,  and cigarette packets, plastic or PVC banners less than 100 micron, stirrers.

The notification also prohibits manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of plastic carry bags having thickness less than seventy five microns with effect from 30th September, 2021, and having thickness less than thickness of one hundred and twenty microns with effect from the 31st December, 2022.  Non-woven plastic carry bags of less than 60 gram persqm (GSM) is also prohibited from 30th September 2021.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has also notified the Guidelines on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for plastic packaging vide Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2022, on 16th February 2022.  The Guidelines stipulate mandatory targets on EPR, recycling of plastic packaging waste, reuse of rigid plastic packaging and use of recycled plastic content. The guidelines provide for moving towards sustainable plastic packaging and reducing the plastic foot print.

FSSAI has been continuously working on the packaging regulations to accommodate more environmentfriendly materials and alternatives to plastics packaging for food items. Accordingly, FSSAI has notified Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018 prescribing standards for materials including plastics coming in contact with food products, including packaging materials and issued directions for use.  Further, FSSAI has issued direction vide its orders dt. 18th January 2022 and 21st January 2022 permitting the use of recycled plastics as  food  contact  material.  Also,  FSSAI  vide  order  dt.  30th  December  2019,  requested  all  Food  Safety Commissioners  to  take  appropriate  action  for  elimination/banning  single  use  plastic;  substituting  plastics; improving litter management and better disposal of plastic.

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