Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018

(Updated in 2025) [As amended by Noti. No. F.No. STD/SP-20/T(Recycledplastics-N), dt. 28/03/2025 - Amendment in Regulation 4(4)(e) Notification No.F.No. Std/SP-08/A-1.2019/N-01., dt. 25/01/2022 - Amendment in Regulation 4] [24th December, 2018] Whereas the draft of certain regulations, namely, the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018 vide notification number F.No. 1-95/Stds/Packaging/SP (l&C/A)/FSSAI-2017, dated the 19th March, 2018 was published as required under sub-section (1) of Section 92 of Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (34 of 2006) in Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part III, Section 4, inviting objections and suggestions from the person likely to be affected thereby, before the expiry of a period of thirty days from date on which the copies of Gazette containing the said notification was made available to the public; And whereas, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India made the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulations, 2

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S.1 Short title and commencement.--

(1) These regulations may be called the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018.

(2) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette and Food Business Operator shall comply with all the provisions of these regulations by 1st July, 2019.

S.2 Definitions.--

(1) In these regulations unless the context otherwise requires --

(a) "Act" means the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (Act 34 of 2006);

(b) "food grade" means material made of substances which are safe and suitable for their intended use, and shall not endanger human health or result in unacceptable change in the composition of the food or organoleptic characteristics;

(c) "multilayer/composite food packaging" means a food packaging material composed of two or more layers of same or different types of packaging materials specified under these regulations;

(d) "overall migration limit" means the maximum permitted amount of non- volatile substances released from a material or article into food simulants;

(e) "package or container" means a pre-packaged box, bottle, casket, tin, barrel, case, pouch, receptacle, sack, bag, wrapper or such other things in which an article of food is packed;

(f) "packaging material" means materials such as card

S.3 General Requirements.--

(1) Every food business operator shall ensure that the packaging material used shall be in accordance with these regulations:

Provided where Indian Standards are not available, then relevant International Standards may be complied with.

(2) Any material which comes in direct contact with food or likely to come in contact with food used for packaging, preparation, storing, wrapping, transportation and sale or service of food shall be of food grade quality.

(3) Packaging materials shall be suitable for the type of product, the conditions provided for storage and the equipment for filling, sealing and packaging of food as well as transportation conditions.

(4) Packaging materials shall be able to withstand mechanical, chemical or thermal stresses encountered during normal transportation. In case of flexible or semi-rigid containers, an overwrap packaging may be necessary.

(5) Food products shall be packed in clean, hygienic and tamper-proof package or

S.4 Specific Requirements for Primary food packaging.--

(1) Paper and board materials intended to come in contact with food products --

(a) Paper and board material shall be of uniform formation, thickness and substance.

(b) It shall be free from visible specks, grease marks, cuts, pinholes and other blemishes.

(c) The paper used for the manufacture of boxes, cartons, plates, cups and paper lids or paper which are meant to be direct in contact with food shall be of food grade and shall be free from contaminants.

(d) Paper and board materials used for the manufacturing of containers for packing or storing the food products shall conform to either of the Indian Standards specifications as provided in Schedule I.

(2) Glass containers intended to come in contact with food products: (a) As far as possible, they shall be free from blisters, mould marks, stones and chippings and as far as possible shall be free from cords, seeds and other visible defects.

(b) They shall have a smooth surface without cra

S.5

A list of suggestive packaging materials which may be used for packaging of food products falling under the specified categories is provided in Schedule IV:

Provided that this is an indicative list not restricting the use of any other packaging material complying with the specified standards.

S.SCHEDULE I

SCHEDULE I
Paper and board materials intended to come in contact with food products
Sl. No.	List of Standards
1.	Grease proof paper -- IS 6622
2.	Vegetable parchment or Grease proof paper or Aluminium Foil Laminate -- IS 7161
3.	Aluminium Foil Laminates for Packaging -- IS 8970
4.	General purpose packing or wrapping Paper -- IS 6615
5.	Folding Box Board, uncoated -- IS 1776
6.	Corrugated Fibre Board Boxes -- Specification (Part 1) -- IS 2771

Note: The wax us

S.SCHEDULE II

SCHEDULE II
Metal and Metal Alloys intended to come in contact with food products
Sl. No.	List of Standards
1.	Cold-reduced Electrolytic Tinplate -- IS 1993/ISO 11949
2.	Cold reduced Electrolytic Chromium or Chromium Oxide -- Coated Steel -- IS 12591/ISO 11950
3.	Wrought Aluminium and Aluminium Alloy Sheet and Strip for General Engineering -- IS 737
4.	Aluminium and Aluminium Alloy Bare Foil for Food Packaging -- IS 15392
5.	Specification for Crown Closures -- IS 1994
6.	Specific

S.SCHEDULE III

SCHEDULE III

Plastic Materials intended to come in contact with food products

Sl. No.

List of Standards

Specification for Polyethylene for its safe use in contact with
foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals and drinking water -- IS 10146

Specification for Polystyrene for its safe use in contact with
foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals and drinking water -- IS 10142

Specification for Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) and its copolymers
for its safe use in contact with foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals and drinking water -- IS 10151

S.SCHEDULE IV

SCHEDULE IV

List of suggestive packaging material

Sl.
No.

Product Category

Types of Packaging materials

Milk and milk products

•Glass bottle with metal caps or plastic (polypropylene (PP) or High density polyethylene (HDPE)) caps.

• Rigid Plastic container made of PET with plastic (polypropylene (PP) or High-density polyethylene (HDPE)) caps.

• Rigid Plastic container made up of High density pol

S.Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) First Amendment Regulations, 2025 All Amendments incorporated at appropriate place

FOOD SAFETY AND STANDARDS AUTHORITY OF INDIA

NOTIFICATION

New Delhi, the 28 March, 2025

F.No. STD/SP-20/T(Recycledplastics-N - Whereas, the draft of the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Amendment Regulations, 2022, were published as required under sub-section (1) of section 92 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (34 of 2006) vide notification of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India number, F.No. STD/SP-20/T(Recycledplastics-N), dated the 17^th May, 2022 in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part III, Section 4, inviting objections and suggestions from the persons likely to be affected thereby before the expiry of the period of sixty days from the date on w