FPF Advocates for Enhanced Chemical Safety in Draft Indian Standard for Plastic Feeding Bottles

On July 30, 2026, the Food Packaging Forum (FPF) submitted comments on the draft revision of the Indian standard for plastic feeding bottles, prepared by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). This draft establishes safety requirements for infant feeding bottles, addressing materials, chemical migration testing, labeling, and product performance.

Significantly, the draft prohibits the use of polycarbonate and polyethersulfone due to concerns over bisphenol A (BPA) and bisphenol S (BPS), and it sets migration limits for specific substances. FPF expressed support for BIS’s initiative to enhance protections for infants but urged for more stringent chemical safety measures, given the heightened vulnerability of infants to chemical exposure.

FPF’s feedback highlighted five critical areas for improvement:

1. Broader Chemical Consideration: FPF recommended that BIS expand its focus beyond BPA and BPS to include other bisphenols and hazardous chemicals, cautioning against ‘regrettable substitution’ where harmful substances are replaced with similar alternatives.

2. Wider Range of Chemical Restrictions: The draft primarily addresses heavy metals, BPA, and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), but FPF noted that food contact materials often contain a broader array of substances, such as plasticizers and stabilizers, which should also be evaluated.

3. Non-Intentionally Added Substances (NIAS): FPF urged BIS to consider NIAS, including impurities and degradation products, which can migrate into food despite not being intentionally included in the manufacturing process.

4. Impact of Usage on Material Properties: The forum pointed out that repeated heating and cleaning of feeding bottles could alter their material properties over time, potentially leading to the release of micro- and nanoplastic particles.

5. Infant-Specific Vulnerability: FPF emphasized the necessity of accounting for the unique vulnerabilities of infants when establishing chemical safety requirements and migration limits, especially in light of evidence linking multiple endocrine-disrupting chemicals to adverse developmental outcomes.

To aid in the standard’s future updates, FPF directed BIS to utilize publicly available scientific resources, including its FCCmigex database for migration data and FCCprio for prioritizing hazardous food contact chemicals. This collaborative approach aims to ensure the safety and sustainability of plastic feeding bottles for infants.