The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has granted authorisation to six additional recycled recycled polyethylene terephthalate (r-PET) manufacturing units.
The Association of PET Recyclers (APR) Bharat on Monday said that post this development, the combined FSSAI authorised capacity stands at 1.5 lakh mt per annum of r-PET to meet the demand for food-contact packaging from branded beverage manufacturers. The industry body added that similar capacity levels are awaiting approvals from FSSAI and hoped will be granted authorisation soon. As of May, only five out of 20 rPET manufacturing units had got certification from FSSAI.
“Following recent concerns raised by the Association, the FSSAI has been in constant communication with the members and has been trying to hasten up the process of granting authorisations. As many as six authorisations have been issued in the last 15 days,” said Shailendra Singh, Director General, APR Bharat said. Last month, the industry body had raised concerns that any further delay in granting of authorisations by FSSAI, to the factories set up by recycled PET manufacturers is likely to push a majority of these companies into bankruptcy. It is critical that production commences at these plants to ensure an adequate supply of r-PET in the market. It will enable beverage manufacturers to meet the regulatory guideline which mandates for 30 per cent recycled food-grade plastic content in PET packaging bottles, the industry body added.
So far, the industry players have set up a total capacity of approx. 4 lakh mt at an estimated investment of ₹7,500-8,000 crore to produce r-PET for generating food-contact packaging material, the industry body claimed. “Following recent concerns expressed by us, the CEO and other senior officials of FSSAI have taken very swift and commendable action. Authorisations for six units have already been issued, and we have been assured that approvals for the remaining units are also likely to come through shortly,” Singh stated.
News Courtesy : The Hindu business Line.