The Indian Tinplate Manufacturers’ Association (ITMA), representing SAIL and Tata Steel, has started lobbying with state governments to stop usage of galvanised plain sheets or GP sheets for food packaging as it violates The Prevention of Food Adulteration Act of 1954.
ITMA secretary general Pradeep Sharma said GP sheets, primarily used for making roofing materials and packaging containers for non-edible items, have zinc and lead coating. Both zinc and lead render toxics and packaging food items in it is against The Prevention of Food Adulteration Act.
The PFA Act clearly states: ? No person shall use for manufacturing, preparing or storing any food or ingredient of food, intended for sale, in any utensil or container, which is imperfectly enamelled or imperfectly tinned or which is made of such materials or is in such a state as to be likely to injure such food or render it noxious.?
?The states? health departments are supposed to keep watch on it but a number of edible oil producers, mostly in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, have started using GP sheets for packaging, thus violating the PFA Act,? Sharma, who is also with Tata Tinplate, said.
The Indian tinplate is a 4.5 lakh tonne per annum market enjoying 11% of the total packaging industry. Of the 4.5 lakh tonne, 2 lakh tonne goes in packing edible oil, mostly in the form of 15 kg tins, which is the biggest problem area. “This illegal use of GP sheet packaging is originating from states like Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh and we have taken up the matter with them,” Sharma said.
Although these states are the biggest producers of mustard oil, West Bengal is a major consumer. ?So we have to take it up with the government here,? Sharma said.
KN Mishra, an adviser in the ITMA, said since GP sheet packaging saves Rs 20 per tonne, a section of oil mills was using it. While London Metal Exchange price of tin is $15000 per tonne, the LME price of zinc, and a major component in making GP sheet is $2,200 per tonne. ?But one should not cut down prices at the cost of health,? Sharma said.
However, to make tin packaging cost effective, which is witnessing a 10% year on year growth, Tata Tinplate is bringing down the thickness of tin from 0.27 mm to 0.14 mm. Currently, only Tata Tinplate and Rourkela Steel Plant of SAIL make tin plate but SAIL has not brought down the thickness of tin and is still manufacturing at 0.27mm thickness level, Mishra said. However, usage of GP sheets has not affected the 4.5 lakh tpa tinplate industry turnover. Tinplate costs Rs 55,000 per tonne.
