Food safety regulator Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has announced the much awaited and comprehensive new guidelines regulating the use of recycled PET (r-PET) in food and beverage packaging.
These rules aim to ensure that recycled plastics used in PET bottles meet stringent safety standards and promote sustainability across the sector.
Under the new framework, which was notified last week, only r-PET produced through validated decontamination processes approved by FSSAI will be allowed for food contact materials.
Importantly, the conventional recycling methods without proper decontamination have been prohibited, according to the guidelines.
Further, to aid consumer awareness and transparency, a distinct logo identifying packaging made from food-grade recycled PET will now be mandatory on labels, along with a declaration specifying the percentage of recycled PET used.
The guidelines come amid regulatory pressure from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, which requires consumer product companies to use at least 30% recycled plastic in Category-1 packaging — including rigid plastics like PET bottles — by fiscal year 2026.
This mandate took effect from April 1, 2025.
For beverage makers, this means a significant shift towards incorporating r-PET in their packaging to comply with environmental regulations. However, industry insiders have raised concerns about the limited supply of FSSAI-approved r-PET materials, potentially impacting production timelines and costs.
“The new guidelines provide a clear framework for safe and sustainable recycling processes, but meeting the 30% recycled content target will require scaling up approved r-PET manufacturing capacity,” said an industry source.
The FSSAI’s guidelines also detail out acceptable recycling technologies such as super-clean recycling and melt-in recycling, which include critical decontamination steps to ensure food safety. The regulator has set robust testing and documentation requirements for manufacturers and food business operators to maintain compliance.
These measures aim to foster consumer confidence by guaranteeing that recycled plastic packaging is safe for direct food contact while supporting India’s push toward a circular economy.
The FSSAI conducted a national consultation with stakeholders before finalising these guidelines, reflecting the collaborative effort to balance safety, sustainability, and industry readiness.
As beverage companies work to align with these new norms, the sector anticipates challenges but also opportunities to lead in environmentally responsible packaging.