India - News

On 31 August 2022 a regulation entitled “Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Second Amendment Regulations, 2022.” was published and enforced by The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (...

On 31 August 2022 a regulation entitled “Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Second Amendment Regulations, 2022.” was published and enforced by The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

This regulation sets migration limits for antimony and Phthalic acid, bis (2- ethylhexyl) ester (DEHP) in food contact materials. As a result of this amendment, the list of specified substances with migration values from plastic materials intended for contact with food now contains nine substances. The migration limit value for antimony is 0.04 mg/kg and 1.5 mg/kg for DEHP.

The seven substances for which migration limit values were previously established in the “Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018” are as follows:

On 24th, 2022, the Indian Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers published an order, replacing the Hydrogen Peroxide (Quality Control) Order 2020. The updated order applies to the chemical compound of ...

On 24^th, 2022, the Indian Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers published an order, replacing the Hydrogen Peroxide (Quality Control) Order 2020. The updated order applies to the chemical compound of Hydrogen Peroxide, however, this excludes the compound meant for export. The updated order will come into force in November 2022.

According to the new order, the chemical compound of hydrogen peroxide should also conform with the Indian standard IS 2080: 2021 (Specification for Stabilized Hydrogen Peroxide) and shall bear the Standard Mark under a licence from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), a National Standards body in India. Currently, there are 60 chemicals under the mandatory certification Schedule One of BIS.

Non-conformity with the order will be punishable under the provisions of the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016.

In July 2022, the Indian Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the International Labour Organization (ILO) in order to adapt the International Chemical Safety...

In July 2022, the Indian Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the International Labour Organization (ILO) in order to adapt the International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSC) used for information dissemination to Chemical Industry. 

The ICSC is developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Labour Organization in cooperation with the European Commission to promote occupational safety and health on sites and among workers. The ICSC consist of special data sheets intended to provide concise information on chemicals regarding their safety and health impacts. The benefits of the ICSC are that they can be easily used to distribute information on hazardous properties of chemicals in an understandable and precise way. Furthermore, the information on chemicals in the cards is frequently updated to always provide the latest information. The ICSC includes the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling (GHS). Currently, on the website of the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals,  

1784 ICSC cards are available,  https://chemicals.nic.in/international-chemical-safety-cards-database   

The Industry of the Association of Chemicals and Petrochemicals in India has been requested, to start the use of the ICSC at working sites. 

On July 27, 2022, the Central Government of India announced the deadline for four chemical substances regulated by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) Act (2016) will be posted. The chemicals and the...

On July 27, 2022, the Central Government of India announced the deadline for four chemical substances regulated by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) Act (2016) will be posted. The chemicals and their new deadlines are:

1. Morpholine: February 1, 2023
2. Acetic Acid: February 3, 2023
3. Methanol: February 3, 2023
4. Aniline: February 3, 2023.

After the deadlines, manufacturers would need to apply for BIS certificates before importing activities.

To learn more about your obligations on chemicals under the BIS certification, read more here  

To know the chemicals that are under BIS scheme, click here 

A proposed amended standard that would prohibit the use of heavy metals in dipentene, which is used to make paints, enamel, lacquers, and polishes, is being discussed by India until July 25. The fo...

A proposed amended standard that would prohibit the use of heavy metals in dipentene, which is used to make paints, enamel, lacquers, and polishes, is being discussed by India until July 25.

The following heavy metals found in dipentene are proposed to be banned by the proposal:

• Cadmium,
• chromium VI,
• arsenic,
• antimony, and their oxides, as well as
• mercury and its derivatives.

Additionally, it states that the total amount of any of them in their natural forms or other contaminants in dipentene cannot be greater than 0.1 percent by weight. The document also suggests establishing a lead content maximum acceptable limit of 90 parts per million (ppm).

Additionally, it advises that packaging be properly sealed and stamped with the following details:

• name of the material 
• name of manufacturer and its recognised trademark if any
• mass of the material 
• lead content (maximum)
• heavy metals content 
• month and year of manufacture 
• lot or batch number and   
• relevant cautionary notes. 

Indian Standard (IS) 644 would undergo its third modification if the draft, which was released by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in May, is accepted. Products that meet its specifications would be certified by the BIS and have a conformity mark on the packaging.

Single-use plastics are plastic goods that are used once and then discarded. One of the largest percentages of plastic produced and used is single-use plastic, which includes food packaging, polythene...

Single-use plastics are plastic goods that are used once and then discarded. One of the largest percentages of plastic produced and used is single-use plastic, which includes food packaging, polythene bags, face masks, coffee cups, cling film, garbage bags, and bottles of shampoo, soap, and cosmetics.

Earbuds, balloon sticks, candy and ice cream sticks, cutlery items like plates, cups, glasses, forks, spoons, knives, and trays, sweet boxes, invitation cards, cigarette packs, PVC banners measuring under 100 microns, and polystyrene for decoration are among the things the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has declared illegal.

In September 2021, the Ministry already prohibited polythene bags smaller than 75 microns; the previous maximum was 50 microns. From December 2022, polythene bags smaller than 120 microns will also be prohibited. According to the ministry representatives, the prohibition is being implemented gradually to give producers time to switch to thicker, easier-to-recycle polythene bags. For bags that are 50 and 75 microns, manufacturers can utilise the same machine; however, for bags that are 120 microns, the equipment will need to be modified.

The State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs), which will submit regular reports to the Center, as well as the CPCB from the Center will monitor the ban. At the national, state, and local levels, instructions have been given to all petrochemical companies, for instance, not to supply raw materials to businesses that manufacture the prohibited goods.

Additionally, instructions have been given to SPCBs and Pollution Control Committees on how to change or cancel the permission to operate granted under the Air/Water Act to businesses that manufacture single-use plastic items. Local governments have been ordered to provide new commercial licences with the requirement that SUP items will not be sold on their premises and that any permits already in place would be revoked if it is discovered that they are doing so.

According to the Environment Protection Act of 1986, anyone found in violation of the ban faces a punishment of up to 5 years in prison, a fine of up to Rs. 1 lakh, or both.

The SPCB may also require violators to pay environmental damage compensation. Municipalities also have their own plastic trash regulations and criminal codes.

India holds a public consultation on a draft standard for carbon tetrachloride, which is widely used as a solvent and diluent. The deadline is June 28. The chemical is also used to make chlorofluor...

India holds a public consultation on a draft standard for carbon tetrachloride, which is widely used as a solvent and diluent. The deadline is June 28.

The chemical is also used to make chlorofluoromethane refrigerants, as well as grain fumigants, fire extinguishing mixtures, and moth control.

If approved, this would be the third version of Indian Standard (IS) 718, which was published by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in April. The draft lays forth the requirements, sampling techniques, and testing procedures for carbon tetrachloride. Because carbon disulphide (CS₂) is no longer utilised, it has been removed from the requirements.

Given the BIS's findings that carbon tetrachloride is one of the most hazardous solvents, all handling must adhere to a variety of different Indian regulations, including IS 5311:1969, the substance's code of safety.

The proposed standard says that it must be chlorine-free, and it must be used in accordance with the following guidelines:

• Maximum non-volatile matter content of 0.002 percent by mass.
• maximum moisture content of 0.01 percent by mass and
• maximum methyl chloride, methylene chloride, and chloroform content of 0.025 percent by mass – used alone or in combination.

It also advises against storing in plain steel or cast-iron drums, preferring galvanised or epoxy-lined mild steel containers or high-density polyethylene (HDPE) drums. The following information must be written on these:

• name of the material.
• name of the producer and, if applicable, its recognised trademark.
• month and year of manufacture.
• lot or batch number.
• net weight and
• any additional legal requirements

If the draft is accepted, products that meet the requirements will be certified by the BIS and labelled with the conformity mark.