The poisonous effect on wheat, rice, sugar and other food items on being packaged in plastic bags.

It may be recalled that the Government of India have approved the road map for dilution of the compulsory packaging norms laid down under the Jute Packaging Materials (Compulsory Use in Packing Commodities) Act, 1987 in respect of foodgrains in July 2002. This has been done with a view to enabling the jute industry to become cost and quality competitive in domestic and international markets. The cumulative percentage of dilution for foodgrains for the Jute year (July to June) 2002-2003 and 2003-2004 are 20% and 40% respectively. The percentage of reservation for packaging in jute bags will, therefore, be 80% and 60% for foodgrains for the 1st and 2nd year respectively. The position will be reviewed in the 3rd year.
The Indian Grain Storage Management and Research Institute (IGMRI), Hapur, a research and development institution of the Department of Food and Public Distribution has conducted a scientific study to evaluate the suitability of PP/HDPE bags for the storage of foodgrains under field conditions. The study was conducted in different agro-climatic zones at Food Storage Depots (FSD) of the Food Corporation of India (FCI) situated at Delhi, Shahjahanpur (UP), Cherlapally and Samalkot (AP), Kollam (Kerala), Bhubaneswar (Orissa), Jallandhar (Punjab), Una(HP), Rampur (MP) and Jorhat (Assam) for different commodities, wheat and rice.
On the basis of the study, the IGMRI has found that :
(i) PP/HDPE bags are light in weight as compared to jute bags.
(ii) PP/HDPE bags are cheaper as compared to jute bags.
(iii) Prophylactic and curative treatment against stored grain insect pests is effective.
The IGMRI conducted its research study for one year storage period and has recommended that :
“PP/HDPE anti slip bags can be used for storage of foodgrains by State procuring agencies in a phased manner, preferably to begin with the operational stocks in covered godowns at safe moisture level”.
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), New Delhi has also conducted studies on the use of PP/HDPE bags for packaging of foodgrains and other items and found that Plastic Woven Sacks (PWS) made of HDPE or PP out perform their traditional counterparts (jute and paper bags) due to superiority exhibited in the following key functional areas:
(i) Low seepage loss, yet option of breathing requirement not sacrificed.
(ii) Moisture resistant; hence most suitable packaging for hygroscopic substances like, fertilizer and sugar.
(iii) Water and insect resistant, thus allowing the PP-HDPE bags to be stored in warehouses and godowns without fear of deterioration and subsequent wastage.
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on the basis of a study conducted by the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), Hyderabad has indicated that, as per available information, food items like grains and flours can be safely stored in plastic bags. However, conditions like initial moisture content, inoculum potential of biological agents like insects and fungi, conditions of storage including temperature and humidity, surrounding hygiene, and frequency of fumigation have considerable bearing on the stability of the product and these vary according to the type of agricultural commodity.
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has standararised the specifications of PP/HDPE woven sacks for packaging of foodgrains and sugar. The BIS have indicated that the standards on HDPE/PP bags for packing of foodgrains and sugar have been issued after due consideration of health and safety aspects. The packaging of cereals and sugar is governed by the various BIS specifications, wherein the requirement of the overall migration limit (combination of all those constituents which adversely affect health) has been prescribed. It has, inter alia, been prescribed that foodgrains and sugar should be packed only in woven sacks made of specific materials which are reasonably safe for personal health. The BIS specifications of textiles – High Density Poly Ethyelene (HDPE) / Poly Propylene (PP) woven sacks for packaging foodgrains and sugar (no. IS 14887 : 2000 & 14968 : 2001) prescribes that the raw material for the tape shall be manufactured from virgin High Density Poly Ethyelene (HDPE) / Poly Propylene (PP) conforming to requirements specified in IS: 10146 or IS: 10910 respectively. The BIS have stated that the aforesaid Indian Standards on plastic raw materials for use in contact with food items are based on internationally accepted requirements such as European Norms, US FDA Regulations, British Plastic Federation Report, London etc. on the subject. The BIS have further informed that for ensuring quality of bags in terms of long term stability to prevent degradation during use, the use of UV stabilized raw materials has been specified in the standards listed in the above specifications.
As per available information, PP bags for packing of sugar are being used in Indonesia, Malaysia, Middle East, Brazil, Cuba, and E.U. countries.
The Directorate General of Health Services has intimated that plastic bags manufactured out of the plastic packaging materials enlisted under Rule 49(5)(v) of Prevention of Food Adulteration (PFA) Rules, 1955 are safe to pack foodgrains and sugar if the material used for manufacturing HDPE / PP bags conforms to the specifications prescribed by BIS.
It may be mentioned that PP/HDPE woven sacks are produced from the same raw materials which are used in items of daily human consumption (in India as well as in other countries) such as milk, edible oils, consumer packs of rice, sugar, wheat, tea, coffee, flour, salt, spices and pulses. The items most sensitive to human health, such as medicines, life saving drugs, blood and plasma pouches are all packed in articles of PP/HDPE and other plastic raw materials. No report or incidence of poisonous effect of PP/HDPE bags during storage of foodgrains has so far come to Government’s notice.
In the light of the facts mentioned above, health hazards do not appear to be involved in the use of PP/HDPE bags for packing of foodgrains and sugar. The Food Corporation of India (FCI) is yet to take decision on the procurement of PP/HDPE bags for the storage of foodgrains. All the safety aspects in use of these bags for storage of foodgrains will be considered carefully before decision on the use of PP/HDPE bags is reached in the FCI.
THE MINISTER OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI SHARAD YADAV), replying to the points raised by the hon. Members, said: We have got conducted the study in this regard. I.I.T., Delhi, National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad and B.I.S. have conducted a thorough study for one year and their findings are that there should be 'version' only not 're-cycling' and it is not injurious to health. Several hon. Members have expressed their concern about its long-term use. We accept that and a thorough investigation, in a scientific manner, would be got conducted by the Government in this regard.