On Monday,expert committee said ‘Plastic bottles made of poly ethylene terephthalate (PET) material were safe fot packaging medicines. The report said, "There is no conclusive evidence to suggest that use of PET or additive like antimony for pharmaceutical packaging may leach substances beyond limits that pose threat to human health,"

The expert panel set up by the health ministry in August 2015 under the chairmanship of former biotechnology secretary M.K. Bhan, asserted that PET could be used safely as a packaging material for drugs under a regulatory system and process.

The panel said,"PET does not require use of phthalates or any plasticizers in the manufacturing process,"

According to panel,finding will be a major relief to the Rs.4,000 crore poly ethylene terephthalate packaging industry, as the sector of pharma sector uses 16% of the 600,000 tonnes of PET produced every year.

The panel suggested too, better standards and strengthening regulatory guidelines by prescribing specific methods for disposal of pharmaceutical packaging wastes.