Summary: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), through its draft notification dated 2 November 2026, has proposed amendments to the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018, concerning the use of recycled plastics in food-contact packaging. Issued under Section 92(2) read with Section 23 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, the draft proposes permitting recycled polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) produced through chemical recycling, as defined in IS 14534, using the monomer route. Such materials would be permitted for food-contact applications only where the resulting polymer is equivalent to virgin material and satisfies the standards applicable to virgin material. The draft also proposes permitting recycled polymers derived exclusively from food-grade packaging materials in the outermost layer of multilayer food packaging. This would be subject to adequate barrier properties in the inner layers to prevent migration of substances from the recycled outer layer into food. The packaging would also have to comply with the prescribed migration limits. These proposals would introduce additional pathways for using recycled polymers while maintaining food-contact safety requirements. The draft regulations have been published for public consultation and will be considered after 60 days from the date the relevant Gazette copies are made available to the public. Stakeholders may submit objections or suggestions to FSSAI at its New Delhi office or by email at [email protected]. The proposals are not yet final regulations, and the notification does not itself authorise immediate use of the proposed recycled materials.
FOOD SAFETY AND STANDARDS AUTHORITY OF INDIA
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 2nd November, 2026
F. No. SS-T0SP20(M)/4/2026-Standard-FSSAI.—The following draft of certain regulations further to amend the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018, which the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India proposes to make with previous approval of the Central Government, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub- section (2) of section 92 read with section 23 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (34 of 2006) is hereby published as required under sub-section (1) of section 92 of the said Act for the information of all persons likely to be affected thereby, and notice is hereby given that the said draft regulations shall be taken into consideration after the expiry of the period of sixty days from the date on which the copies of the Gazette containing this notification are made available to the public;
Objections or suggestions, if any, may be addressed to the Chief Executive Officer, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, Food and Drug Administration Bhawan, Kotla Road, New Delhi-110002 or may be sent by email at [email protected].
Objections or suggestions which may be received with respect to the said draft regulations within the period specified above shall be considered by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India.
Draft Regulations
1. These regulations may be called the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Amendment Regulations, 2026.
2. In the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018, –
(1) In regulation (4) relating to specific requirements for primary food packaging, in sub regulation (4) relating to plastic materials intended to come in contact with food products, after Clause (e) the following clauses shall be inserted, namely;
a. Recycled Polyethylene (PE) and Polypropylene (PP) produced by Chemical recycling process as defined in IS 14534, via the monomer route, may be used for food-contact materials, only when the output (end product) is considered equivalent to virgin material and meets the criteria applicable to virgin material.
b. Recycled polymer derived exclusively from food-grade packaging material may be used in the outermost layer of multilayer packaging material intended for food contact, provided that the inner layers possess adequate barrier properties to prevent migration of substances from the outermost layer into the food and also shall fulfil the already prescribed migration limits for packaging materials.
RAJIT PUNHANI, Chief Executive Officer
[ADVT.-III/4/Exty./423/2026-27]
Note. –The principal regulations were published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part III, Section 4 vide notification number File No. 1-95/Stds/Packaging/SP(L&C/A)/FSSAI-2017, dated the 24th December, 2018 and last amended vide notification number F. No. RCD-09002/1/2026-Regulatory- FSSAI dated 7th August, 2026.
