The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has released a draft notification dated October 6, 2025, proposing amendments to the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018. The draft, titled Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Amendment Regulations, 2025, seeks to strengthen food packaging safety by prohibiting the use of certain harmful substances. Two key additions have been proposed under the general requirements section of the existing regulations. First, the use of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAs) in the manufacturing of food contact materials will be banned. Second, materials made with polycarbonate and epoxy resins must be free from Bisphenol A (BPA) and its derivatives. Both PFAs and BPA are known for their persistence in the environment and potential adverse health effects, including hormonal disruption.
The draft regulations are open for public comments and suggestions for 60 days from the date the Gazette copy becomes publicly available. Stakeholders may send their feedback to the Chief Executive Officer, FSSAI, at the Food and Drug Administration Bhawan, New Delhi, or via email at regulation@fssai.gov.in. The FSSAI will consider all submissions before finalizing the amendments.
This draft marks the latest update following the previous amendment issued in March 2025 concerning recycled plastics. The proposal aligns with global regulatory trends aimed at reducing chemical hazards in food packaging and enhancing consumer safety.
FOOD SAFETY AND STANDARDS AUTHORITY OF INDIA
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 6th October, 2025
F. No. SSDIVI-PF0SP20(16)/2/2025-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 regulation@fssai.gov.in.
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, 2025.
2. In the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018, –
(1) in regulation (3) relating to General requirements, after sub regulation (14), following shall be inserted, namely;
“(15) Poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAs) shall not be used in manufacturing of food contact materials.
(16) Food contact materials manufactured with polycarbonate and epoxy resins shall be free from Bisphenol A (BPA) and its derivatives.”
RAJIT PUNHANI, Chief Executive Officer
[ADVT.-III/4/Exty./403/2025-26]
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. STD/SP-20/T(Recycledplastics-N) dated the 28th March, 2025.
