GENEVA, SWITZERLAND / AGILITYPR.NEWS / September 19, 2025 / SGS, the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification company, has issued SafeGuardS 132.25 to inform stakeholders of the latest developments in the use of recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) in food contact materials (FCM) in India.

In March 2025, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) introduced legislation permitting the use of rPET plastics in FCMs and articles, provided they comply with applicable national standards or regulations. To support the industry, FSSAI issued the guidance document, ‘Guidelines for Acceptance of Recycled PET as FCM (FCM-rPET)’, in May 2025. The guidelines establish criteria for the safe use of rPET in food contact applications and provide clarity on testing, process validation and regulatory compliance.

Key highlights of the FSSAI guidance include:

• The scope covers the recycling process of post-consumer PET into FCM-rPET resins, acceptance criteria for use in food contact applications and recycling technologies approved by FSSAI
• Recycling processes such as super-clean, melt-in, paste-in or chemical recycling must include at least one decontamination step to remove contaminants to safe levels
• Validation requires conducting Challenge Tests, Extraction Tests and Migration Tests
• Testing must follow the latest versions of Indian Standards IS 12252, IS 9845 and IS 9833 in NABL ILAC-accredited laboratories
• Acceptance criteria are provided for process input, validation and output
• Manufacturers may use the FCM-rPET-X symbol or labeling stating: “The packaging material is made with recycled PET”
• Recycled content determination must follow IS 14534:2023
• Documentation requirements include declarations of compliance, regulatory opinions, supply chain records and manufacturer authorization applications

SGS publishes SafeGuardS to help industry stakeholders stay informed about regulatory and compliance developments. SafeGuardS 132.25 highlights the latest guidance for rPET in food contact applications in India. Stakeholders are advised to review SafeGuardS 132.25 to stay up to date with evolving rPET requirements and ensure that appropriate measures are in place to achieve compliance.

SGS Food Contact Material Services

SGS’s technical experts have extensive experience of testing materials and articles in contact with food. They can ensure that your products meet the appropriate regulations for food contact materials and pave the way for compliance. SGS offers the full range of testing, including migration tests, along with expert advice on emerging regulations, compliance issues and documentation review. In the end, it’s only trusted because it’s tested. Learn more about SGS’s Food Contact Material Services.

SGS SafeGuardS keep you up to date with the latest news and developments in the consumer goods industry. Read the full India Issues Guidelines for Food Contact Recycled PET Plastics.

Subscribe today and receive SGS SafeGuardS direct to your inbox.

For further information contact:

Dr. Hingwo Tsang

Global Information and Innovation Manager

Tel: +852 2774 7420

Yogesh Joshi

Manager RSTS

Tel: +911246135264

Website: www.sgs.com/hardlines

LinkedIn: SGS Connectivity & Products