BIS Standards for Food Packaging in India: IS Codes, Certification & Compliance

When FSSAI regulations state that food packaging must be "food grade," they point to one place for the technical definition: the Bureau of Indian Standards. BIS publishes the Indian Standard (IS) specifications that define what food-grade plastic, paper, metal, glass, and ceramic actually mean in measurable, testable terms. Without understanding BIS standards, FSSAI compliance is incomplete.

For wholesale buyers, manufacturers, and food businesses, BIS standards are not abstract technical documents. They are the benchmarks against which your packaging will be tested if an FSSAI food safety officer picks up a sample from your premises. This guide covers every BIS standard relevant to food packaging, explains what each standard requires, and shows you how to verify compliance before you buy.

How BIS Standards Relate to FSSAI Regulations

The Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016 empowers BIS to formulate Indian Standards and operate certification schemes. FSSAI, under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, references BIS standards as the technical benchmarks for food contact materials. The relationship works like this: FSSAI sets the regulatory mandate (food packaging must be safe), while BIS provides the technical specification (here is how to measure and verify that safety).

Section 16 of the BIS Act empowers the central government to make any standard mandatory through a notification in the Official Gazette. Several food-packaging-related standards now carry mandatory certification requirements, meaning products cannot be sold without the BIS Standard Mark (ISI mark).

Key BIS Standards for Food Packaging

IS 9845:1998 -- Determination of Overall Migration of Constituents of Plastics Materials

This is the most frequently cited standard in Indian food packaging. IS 9845 prescribes the method for determining overall migration from plastics intended for food contact. It specifies the food simulants to be used (distilled water, 3% acetic acid, 15% ethanol, n-heptane), the contact conditions (temperature and time based on intended use), and the maximum overall migration limit of 60 mg/kg (or 10 mg/dm2).

Every plastic food container, cup, plate, lid, and cutlery item sold in India must comply with IS 9845. The standard applies to all common food-contact plastics including polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), and polystyrene (PS).

IS 6615:1972 -- Food Grade Tissue Paper and Paper for Food Packaging

IS 6615 specifies requirements for paper and paperboard intended for direct food contact. The standard restricts the use of recycled fibre that may contain printing ink residues, limits fluorescent whitening agents, sets maximum limits for lead and arsenic content in the paper, and requires specific tensile strength and moisture resistance properties. Paper cups, paper plates, paper food wrapping, and kraft paper bags used for food must comply with this standard.

IS 15495:2004 -- Aluminium Foil for Food Packaging

This standard governs aluminium foil used for wrapping, covering, and forming containers for food. It prescribes maximum limits for lead (not more than 10 ppm) and arsenic (not more than 2 ppm) in the foil, minimum thickness requirements, mechanical properties (tensile strength, elongation), and surface cleanliness requirements. Aluminium foil containers, aluminium foil rolls, and aluminium laminates for food packaging must comply with IS 15495.

IS 2467:2002 -- Glass Containers for Food

IS 2467 specifies requirements for glass bottles, jars, and containers used for food and beverages. The standard sets limits for lead and cadmium release from the glass surface, thermal shock resistance requirements, dimensional tolerances, and defect classifications. While glass packaging is less common in disposable food service, it remains relevant for bottled beverages, pickles, and preserved foods.

IS 4853:1982 -- Ceramic Ware in Contact with Food

This standard addresses the safety of ceramic articles (plates, bowls, cups, mugs) that contact food. The key compliance parameters are lead and cadmium release limits, which vary by vessel category. Flatware (plates) has different limits than hollowware (bowls, cups), and small hollowware has different limits than large hollowware. Glazed ceramic products must comply with IS 4853 before they can be marketed for food use.

IS 10171:1999 -- Tin Plate Containers for Food Products

IS 10171 covers tinplate containers (cans) used for food storage. It specifies tin coating weight, soldering requirements, internal lacquer specifications, and dimensional standards for standard can sizes. While less relevant for disposable food service packaging, this standard governs the tinplate containers used for canned foods, dairy products, and cooking oils.

Mandatory BIS Certification for Food Packaging

The Government of India, through notifications under Section 16 of the BIS Act, 2016, has made BIS certification mandatory for several food-packaging-related product categories. Products under mandatory certification cannot be manufactured, imported, or sold in India without the BIS Standard Mark (ISI mark).

Product	IS Standard	Mandatory Since	Certification Type
Packaged drinking water	IS 14543	2000	Product + Packaging
Mineral water	IS 13428	2001	Product + Packaging
PET bottles (for water/beverages)	IS 15410	2018	Packaging
Baby feeding bottles	IS 14625	2020	Product
Stainless steel utensils	IS 14756	2022	Product

For these product categories, look for the ISI mark on the product. Manufacturing or importing these products without BIS certification is a criminal offence under Section 29 of the BIS Act, carrying a penalty of up to Rs 2 lakh for the first offence and up to Rs 5 lakh with imprisonment for subsequent offences.

Voluntary BIS Certification

For product categories not under mandatory certification, manufacturers can still obtain voluntary BIS certification. This is increasingly common among reputable packaging manufacturers because it differentiates their products in a crowded market, satisfies FSSAI compliance requirements with a single certification, provides buyers with a reliable quality indicator, and is sometimes required by large institutional buyers (hotel chains, airline caterers, government canteens).

The voluntary certification process involves submitting an application to BIS with product samples, factory inspection by BIS officers to verify manufacturing capability, product testing at a BIS-recognised laboratory, and grant of licence to use the Standard Mark upon passing all requirements. The licence is valid for one year and must be renewed annually, with periodic surveillance audits.

How to Verify BIS Compliance When Buying Packaging

As a buyer of food packaging -- whether you are a restaurant, caterer, cloud kitchen, or food manufacturer -- verifying BIS compliance protects you from regulatory penalties and, more importantly, from using unsafe materials that could harm your customers.

Verification Checklist

• Ask your supplier for the BIS test report or certification number for each product category you purchase
• For products under mandatory certification, check for the ISI mark on the product or its packaging
• Verify the BIS licence number on the BIS website (manak.bis.gov.in) using the "Know Your Standard Mark" feature
• Request a copy of the migration test report conforming to IS 9845 for all plastic packaging products
• For paper products, request a test report confirming compliance with IS 6615
• For aluminium products, request a test report confirming compliance with IS 15495
• Maintain a compliance file with all certificates and test reports, organised by product and supplier
• Renew documentation annually -- BIS licences and test reports have expiry dates

Red Flags to Watch For

Supplier cannot provide any test report or certificate when asked. Test report references a standard number that does not match the product material. BIS licence number on the product does not verify on the BIS website. Product claims "food grade" without referencing any specific IS standard. Pricing is significantly below market rates for the material and size, which may indicate the use of non-food-grade or recycled materials.

BIS Standards and Eco-Friendly Packaging

The growing shift toward eco-friendly packaging materials has created a standards gap. While BIS has well-established standards for conventional materials (plastic, paper, metal, glass), standards for newer materials like sugarcane bagasse, areca palm leaf, PLA bioplastics, and bamboo are still developing.

Currently, bagasse and areca leaf products are assessed against the general food safety requirements of the FSSAI Packaging Regulations, 2018 rather than a material-specific BIS standard. PLA bioplastics are tested against IS 9845 (the plastic standard) because they share similar migration characteristics with conventional plastics despite being bio-based. BIS has initiated work on dedicated standards for bio-based and compostable packaging, but publication timelines remain uncertain.

For food businesses switching to eco-friendly packaging, the practical approach is to demand migration test reports from your supplier regardless of the material. A reputable supplier of bagasse plates, areca leaf plates, or paper-based eco packaging will have conducted migration testing even in the absence of a material-specific BIS standard.

Recent and Upcoming Changes

BIS standards are periodically revised to reflect new scientific evidence, international harmonisation, and industry developments. Key recent and anticipated changes in the food packaging space include revision of IS 9845 to align with EU Regulation 10/2011 on plastic food contact materials, introduction of specific migration limits for a wider range of substances, new standards for recycled content in food packaging (supporting the circular economy agenda), dedicated standards for compostable packaging materials and their food-contact properties, and mandatory BIS certification expanding to additional product categories including disposable food service items.

Food businesses and packaging suppliers should monitor BIS notifications through the official Gazette and the BIS website to stay ahead of these changes. The transition period for new mandatory certifications is typically 6 to 12 months from notification.