Dive Brief:
- India has announced plans to ban use of polyethylene terephtalate (PET) in drug packaging for vulnerable populations, including women of reproductive age, children, and the elderly, over concerns about harmful chemicals leaching from the plastic into the pharmaceuticals.
- The Indian Drug Manufacturers Association (IDMA) has called the recommendation "unjust" and requested that the recommended ban not be implemented.
- Stakeholders have until November 13 to lodge comments with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Dive Insight:
The goal of the PET ban is to protect the most vulnerable patients from the effects of chemical leached from plastic; but as the IDMA notes, PET is approved for drug packaging in many parts of the world, including the U.S., Europe, and Japan.
The major problem with the government's announcement of the PET ban is that the government has not released any data to support its proposal. At the same time, opponents of the ban have not produced any favorable evidence supporting the continued use of PET. Finalized guidance will be available in less than two months.