New Delhi: An expert committee constituted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has told the National Green Tribunal that there is no conclusive proof that polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles used for packaging medicines has ill effects on human health.
“There is no conclusive evidence to suggest that use of PET or additive like antimony for pharmaceutical packaging may leach substances beyond limits that pose threat to human health. There is also no conclusive, reproducible evidence that such use has ill effects on human health. “Within a robust regulatory system and process with clearly defined standards and requirements, the use of PET as a packaging material for pharmaceuticals can be practiced with assurance of safety…,” the expert committee told a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said.
The panel, set up by the Health Ministry in August last year under the chairmanship of M K Bhan, said that PET can be used safely as a packaging material for drugs under a regulatory system and process.
“Considering that lack of specific regulatory provisions for disposal of waste from pharmaceutical packaging, including plastics, may contribute to the environmental hazards, the Committee recommends that regulatory guidelines/requirements should be strengthened by prescribing specific methods for disposal of pharma packaging wastes,” it said.
The Tribunal, after taking the report on record, directed the parties in the case to file their objections within two weeks and made it clear that it would not grant any further opportunity to the parties to file their response. During the hearing, the counsel appearing for the Ministry of Health told the bench that they would upload the report on the website of Central Drugs Standard Control Organization to make it convenient for the people to obtain copy of it.
The matter is listed for next hearing on April 21. The Tribunal was hearing a petition filed by NGO Him Jagriti Uttaranchal Welfare Society seeking a ban on the use of PET for packaging as they leach harmful chemicals such as phthalates and heavy metals into the substances. (PTI)
