Is the plastic or Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) bottle containing your cough syrup or antacid really safeIJ The Union Health Ministry has decided to find it out. It will soon set up a high level panel to look into the safety aspects of the material, following complaints that the packaging of pharmaceutical products in PET and plastic bottles poses environment and health hazards. PET bottles are widely used by the pharma industry for packaging purposes.
Directorate General of Health Services Chairman Jagdish Prasad confirmed the move and said that the issue pertains to the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) which will scientifically look into the health impact of such packaging of pharma products.
He said that the move follows complaint from an NGO which had sought complete ban on usages of PET bottles (both coloured and uncoloured) as primary packaging material in pharmaceutical liquid orals, suspensions and dry syrups as it has severe adverse effects on human health due to the presence of endocrine disruptors.
The sources said that the issue of banning of PET and plastic bottles for packaging of pharmaceutical products was taken up by the Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB), the highest decision making body in the Health Ministry, in its meeting held recently.
NGO, HIM Jagriti had brought to the notice of the DTAB members that medical and pharmaceutical products, whether consumed orally or injected into human beings, should not be made available to the consumer in a health threatening packaging.
It further alleged that pharmaceutical liquid orals which were earlier packed in glass bottles are now being sold in PET bottles.
“Most of the cough syrups, antacids, vitamins are packed in coloured (Amber) PET bottles. In PET bottles leaching take place under varying storage temperature conditions and the age of packaging. The PET / plastic bottles are composed of rigid plastic and are referred because of their light weight and shatter resistant quality.”
Studies have revealed that leaching of plastic led to contamination of stored product with the chemicals released by its packaging which may be even carcinogenic, the NGO said in its representation to the Ministry.