This findings are expected to come as a major large capacity automatic filling machine detailss Factory relief to the Rs. Bhan to assess the health and environmental impact on the use of PET or plastic container for primary packaging of drug formulations." The committee also recommended establishing better standards, regulatory requirement strategies for the country.The committee noted "common features of the submitted reports are inadequate reference value for interpreting results.The ministry of health and family welfare (MoHFW) had earlier in 2014 proposed a ban on pl-astic containers for oral formulation after the an experts committee and Drug Technical Advisory Board, a statutory board, considered the issue, following a representation from NGO Him Jagriti that raised concerns abo-ut the harmful effects of PET in packaging of pha-rmaceutical products.

Of the 600,000 tonnes of PET production, the pharmaceutical industry uses around 16 percent, accounting for around 100,000 tonnes every year.K.In what could be a major relief to Indian pharmaceutical companies, a committee of experts on Monday deemed PET bottles safe for packaging pharmaceutical formulations.Further, the committee also noted that National Test House and Indian Institute of Toxicological Research (IITR), labs that conducted tests on PET bottles, have not consistently used rigorous methods for all estimations, reporting of results and choice of standards. PET does not require use of phthalates or any plasticisers in the manufacturing process." It further said that regular soda-lime glass untreated with moderate hydraulic resistance is more leachable oxide than treated soda-lime glass. The pharma companies were earlier asked to phase out the use of plastic containers in liquid oral formulations meant for paediatric formulations, geriatrics, women in reproductive age group and pregnant women.

Later, the pharmaceutical firmss approached the NGT that directed the MoHFW to constitute an expert panel to study the science behind the issue.Thereafter, the expert committee was constituted under the chairmanship of former secretary (department of biotechnology) M. In an effort to address public concerns and strengthening of regulation for packaging and waste management, the committee has recommended a series of additional tests. According to the report by experts, "Treated soda-lime glass is characterised by high hydraulic resistance and is more suitable to leaching than borosilicate glass."The committee requested Him Jagriti to provide additional information in the test reports which requires clarification and Him Jagruti did provided a response but the core concerns raised by the experts remained unanswered making it difficult to arrive at reliable conclusion in either direction.