Toluene Free Ink | Gravure Inks | Rotogravure Inks, Flexible Packaging Inks,Food Safe Packaging Inks

FSSAI norm IS 15495 looks at revamping their standard on Inks for food packaging, and is laying more emphasis on packaging safety by bringing a specific regulation focused on toluene free inks for food packaging(Food Packaging inks). The standard prescribes that any material used for packaging, preparation, storing, wrapping, transportation and sale or service of food shall be of food grade quality (‘Food grade’ refers to materials made of substances which are safe and suitable for their intended use which shall not endanger human health and bring change in the composition of food or organoleptic characteristics) a regulation needed for safe food packaging. FSSAI has always promoted the principle of self-discipline in the industry, which eventually helps the brand owners to apply best practices available globally and produce safe products for the consumer. FSSAI now prescribes that printing inks for use on food packages shall conform to IS 15495. The standard is being developed by Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and will be mandatory post FSSAI notification of the regulation.

Packaging inks conformance to IS 15495:
The Indian Standard IS 15495:2004 ‘Printing Ink for food packaging – Code of Practice’ prescribes guidelines for printing inks for use in food packages. The standard differentiates between four categories of printing inks and gives guidance on the formulation of the respective inks:
Printing inks on external (secondary/tertiary) food packaging: They can be formulated freely, but must not contain substances from the exclusion list and must not contain toxic substances. In the case, that a functional barrier does not exist, bleeding dyes and coloring agents need to be avoided.
Printing inks on immediate food wrappings: Those must be applied to the outside of the food wrapper, comply with the exclusion list and must not contain toxic substances. Inks are to be printed in such a manner as to avoid set-off. The final intended articles need to be manufactured in a manner that under normal or foreseeable condition of use, they shall not transfer their constituents to the food in quantities, which may endanger human health, cause a deterioration in the organoleptic characteristics or an unacceptable change in the nature, substance and/or quality of the food. In the case, that a functional barrier does not exist, bleeding dyes and coloring agents need to be avoided.
Printing inks for direct food contact: They must be formulated only with food additives under the appropriate regulation of the Government of India. The final intended articles need to be manufactured in a manner that under normal or foreseeable condition of use, they shall not transfer their constituents to the food in quantities, which may endanger human health, cause a deterioration in the organoleptic characteristics or an unacceptable change in the nature, substance and/or quality of the food. In the case, that a functional barrier does not exist, bleeding dyes and coloring agents need to be avoided.
Printing inks for disposables (e.g. paper plates, drinking straws or table napkins): Those inks must not contain substances from the exclusion list or those, which are otherwise known to be toxic. Moreover, they shall be formulated to avoid bleeding onto the food.
We at DIC India conform to the new ruling and are ready to help the printer and convertor community. With Inks from DIC India like Ultralam NT, Smart TF, Smart KF and low VOC water based inks the printers and convertors need not incur expense for change in machinery or infrastructure. Hence the change shall be minimalistic while expense and shall be assisted by our dedicated team of technical experts. DIC India has a complete range of Food safe inks which are toluene free and comply with BIS and FSSAI norms IS15495.

In case you have requirement for food safe inks or toluene free inks which can meet your requirement for lamination inks or flexible packaging inks write to us at [email protected]