In the light of the proposed ban on use of PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) for packaging medicines, the All India Glass Manufacturers’ Federation (AIGMF) has approached the Union health ministry to reiterate glass industry’s capabilities for unhindered supplies of glass bottles to pharmaceutical companies.

In a written submission, the AIGMF informed the Health Ministry that 'we would like to assure you that our members will ensure the availability of glass bottles to the liquid filling pharmaceutical units on priority basis throughout the year'.

The industry invested more than Rs. 5000 crore in the last 5 years to create capacities. This will enable the glass industry to cater to the additional demand from pharma industry.

According to an AIGMF official, in the light of the proposed ban on use of PET for packaging medicines, an ill-informed campaign was started on the characteristic of glass bottles and on its suitability for primary packaging of pharma products. This campaign started after the government issued a pre-notification on September 29, 2014 seeking suggestion for prohibition of usage of PET for pharmaceutical packaging.  

AIGMF opines that the misconception created about price increase of drugs due to prohibition of PET packaging shows total disregard for human health especially of women and children.

Glass industry in India has a capacity of over 10,000 tons of glass per day which will convert to yearly capacity of almost 3.7 million tons. If it is required immediately industry has the capacity of over 1 million tons, which is more than sufficient to cater to the requirement. As a matter of fact, the pharmaceutical industry currently uses glass bottles to fill its 40-50 per cent requirement. The conversion from glass to PET/plastic packaging started only 8 to 10 years back for the sake of convenience, purely commercial benefits and due to lack of awareness.

AIGMF also opines that the impact of cost of packaging on the MRP is not so significant that the switchover from PET to glass should be of any issue to any manufacturer especially considering the huge health advantage women and children enjoy in the long run due to this switchover.

The Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) had initially considered banning the use of plastic during a meeting held on November 25, 2013. The Indian Drug Manufacturers’ Association (IDMA), in turn, had made a detailed submission on December 20, 2013, asking them to reconsider the recommendation.

The IDMA has also written to the ministry of health and family welfare and the  PMO, slamming the proposed ban on using plastic containers as primary packaging of drugs and formulations in the country. The IDMA, in its letters, quoted the finding of an expert committee set up by DTAB to study the health-related claims noted that, “information provided in the representation of a Dehradun-based non-profit organisation HIM Jagriti, Uttaranchal Welfare Society and according to available literature, is not sufficient enough to establish a definite correlation of causality of plastic container for pharmaceutical products and adverse health effects.”

With a total pharmaceutical-specific market of one lakh metric ton or Rs. 2,500 crore, the plastic industry is up in arms against the proposal, saying there is no precedence for such a move.