Here are the government regulations and policies related to sustainable packaging in India.
The connection between food packaging and safeguarding consumers is crucial. Packaging is a safety tool, ensuring consumers receive safe, healthy, and nutritious food. To protect the welfare of consumers and society as a whole, governments have implemented Packaging Laws and Regulations.
Government Policies and Regulations
The food and beverage industry stands out as a major adopter of sustainable packaging compared to other industries. Sustainable packaging entails developing and utilizing packaging materials with minimal environmental impact across their lifecycle. This approach involves using eco-friendly and renewable materials, reducing waste, and mitigating the carbon footprint associated with packaging, transportation, and disposal. The primary aim of sustainable packaging is to safeguard the product while also reducing the environmental impact of the packaging.
Recognizing the immense potential of the food processing and packaging industry, the Government of India has implemented several measures to encourage ease of doing business and attract investments in this sector. Key initiatives such as the Plastic Waste Management Rules and the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework are pivotal in promoting eco-friendly packaging, encouraging recycling and waste management, and holding manufacturers accountable for their packaging waste.
Additionally, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has introduced the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018, which outline general and specific requirements for food packaging to ensure compliance with various national and international standards. FSSAI has also implemented regulatory measures aimed at reducing the plastic footprint of the Food and Beverage Industry:
- Permits the utilization of alternative food-grade packaging materials such as paper, glass, and metal alloys for water packaging.
- Provides directives on the utilization of bamboo as a material for food contact.
- Authorizing the serving of drinking water in paper-sealed reusable glass bottles for internal use within hotel premises, with specified conditions.
The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) has launched several initiatives
- The Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (PMKSY) is a comprehensive scheme to modernize infrastructure and improve supply chain management from farm to retail, thereby boosting the food processing sector.
- The PM Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme provides financial, technical, and business support for establishing or upgrading micro food processing enterprises.
- The Production Linked Incentive Scheme for the Food Processing Industry (PLISFPI) aims to increase industry capacity, promote the growth of strong Indian brands, and enhance the global presence of Indian food brands.
The food processing sector is a priority under the Make in India initiative. To attract investments, the Ministry of Food Processing Industry is implementing schemes to develop infrastructure for food processing industries. This includes promoting Mega Food Parks in areas abundant in agricultural resources and providing common facilities such as roads, electricity, water supply, sewage treatment, as well as processing amenities like pulping, packaging, cold storage, dry storage, and logistics.
Conclusion
The Extended Producer Responsibility guidelines mandate sustainable plastic packaging to reduce the plastic footprint and present a framework to strengthen the circular economy of plastic packaging waste, promote the development of new plastic alternatives, and provide the next steps for transitioning towards sustainable plastic packaging by businesses. With the backing of government policies and compliance regulations, India presents an attractive investment opportunity in the sustainable food packaging sector.
Related Article: How India is Staying Ahead in Sustainable Packaging Trends
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