On August 30, 2022, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) officially amended the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations to include the overall migration limits for antimony (CAS 7440-36-0) and di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (phthalic acid, DEHP, CAS 117-81-7) from plastic packaging. The substances will be limited to a migration rate of 0.04 mg/kg of food and 1.5 mg/kg, respectively.
FSSAI began reviewing the standards for chemicals in plastic food contact materials (FCMs) in 2019 after concerns were raised about the lack of national regulations, especially for antimony and DEHP (FPF reported).
Antimony trioxide (CAS 1309-64-4) is a commonly used plastics additive, and in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) manufacturing it is often used as a catalyser to increase the rate of the chemical reaction for producing PET resins. Scientific studies have shown that antimony present in plastics can migrate out of the material and into foods (FPF reported, also here), with migration increasing with temperature (FPF reported) and drink acidity (FPF reported). Phthalate exposure is linked with a diverse array of health impacts (FPF reported). In the US, significant exposure comes from fast food packaging (FPF reported), with the total economic cost to society estimated at $39-47 billion annually (FPF reported).
In April 2022, Indian researchers reported that the overall migration of plasticizers, antioxidants, fatty acids, lubricants, and surfactants from low-density polyethylene (LDPE) packaging into Dahi (Indian curd) was below the then-maximum migration limit. However, only 11% of the 76 chemicals they identified in the extracts were included on the positive list for polyolefins developed by the Bureau of Indian Standards (FPF reported).
Reference
FSSAI (August 31, 2022). “Gazette Notification on Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Amendment Regulation related to migration limit for antimony and DEHP in plastic materials.” (pdf)
