Tin plates slip on quality norms

Sub-standard plates being used for edible oil packaging: Association

Concerned over the rampant use of imported second-grade tinplate by a large number of edible oil and food processing companies in north India, the Indian Tinplate Manufacturers Association (ITMA) and the North India Tin Fabricators Association (NITFA) have expressed concern at such malpractices, and have called for strict adherence to the Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS) specifications, and implementation of the the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act (PFA) provisions to safeguard the health of people.

With more than 120 manufacturers of containers for brands sold in Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan, the violation of the BIS specifications, and laxity in the implementation of thePFA, consumers face a serious health hazard. Speaking to Business Standard in Chandigarh, SN Mathur, Indian Tinplate Manufacturers Association director, said, "Around 50 per cent of the market of edible oil companies packages its products in tin containers."

He further added that 90 per cent of the mustard oil sent from Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan was being consumed by West Bengal, UP and Bihar. "It is not a regional problem, but something which is engulfing the entire country," Mathur said.

The core problem lies with the low quality of second grade and misprinted tinplates which sellers from the UK, US, Brazil, France, and Germany export to India at throw-away prices. Indian buyers use them by keeping the printed side inside, and the shining side outside.

The products are usually offered at prices ranging between Rs 20,000-25,000 per tonne, as compared with Rs 50,000 per tonne being offered by the two Indian manufactures -Steel Authority of India Limited, and Tin Plate Company of India, Jamshedpur.

"The non-edible colour used in printing comes in contact with the cooked material. These non-edible colours, if consumed, can even cause cancer," said Mathur.

The association is also putting efforts to stop the usage of GP sheets in packaging of edible oils.These sheets contain zinc, which is toxic in nature, and lead, which is prohibited from human consumption.