At the recent Indian Institute of Packaging (IIP) national conference on Global Trends in Packaging of Food, Pharmaceuticals and Bulk Drugs in Hyderabad, Dr D Purandeswari, Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry has stressed on increasing need for research and development focus in packaging.

Dr Purandeshwari said that though there were 22,000 package units in the country, 80 per cent of them are very small units and 50 per cent of them are fragments. Hence, regulation has become a challenge and there is a need for increasing R&D focus in packaging, she said.

She said that the Government of India is also planning to bring in barcoding and labelling norms for all major exports which will improve the quality and prevent spurious goods.

Prof. N C Saha, director, IIP, informed, “The conference was organised in support with The World Packaging Organisation, and The Asian Packaging Federation, the International non-profit apex bodies in packaging industry which aimed to provide an insight into the recent developments in the field of packaging of food and pharmaceutical and bulk drug products.”

Prof Saha stressed, “The bulk drug industries are growing very fast particularly the bulk drug and dangerous chemicals which are exported from our country to the various parts of the globe. As it is a known fact in the past “packaging”, the silent salesman has contributed immensely to the safety of products from both the pharmaceutical & food sectors.”

Prof. Saha further added that IIP is also trying to get a “Deemed University” status so that the Institute would be in a position to offer the degree in the field of packaging. “We have already constitute a task force committee with the eminent faculty members from 15 reputed institutes like Indian Institute of Technology, National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad’ CFTRI, Mysore; VJIT, Mumbai University, Calcutta Universtiy; NIPER, CPPRI, CJRI, Jadavpur University and others to formulate the syllabus of B.Tech and M. Tech Programmes in packaging technology and management.”

He said that the IIP is also studying to offer a eco friendly packaging solutions for Mid Day Meal Scheme inorder to provide safe and hygienic solution.

Over 150 delegates have participated in the national meet which has discussed various issues and contemporary subjects pertaining to the industry which includes global trends and regulatory aspects; developments and innovations in packaging materials; recent developments and innovations in packaging systems; anti counterfeit devices in packaging a need of the hour; labeling and cost optimization; packaging requirements user perspectives; transportation and certification of bulk drugs and challenges and needs in packaging for consumer goods, etc. and other.

Eminent speakers present at conference includes Samiran Das, executive vice president, Global Generics, Dr Reddy Laboratories; Vinod Kotwal, director of FSSAI, Government of India; A Karunakar, senior director of Regulatory Affairs of Dr Reddy’s Laboratories and Dr D M Wakankar, vice president of Corporate Product Safety of Clariant Chemicals (India), etc.