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IDMA urges health ministry to allow use of PET bottles for packaging drugs
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Swati Rana, Mumbai
June 27 , 2016
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The Indian Drug Manufacturers' Association (IDMA) has urged the ministry
of health and family welfare to consider the continued safe use of PET
containers in pharma industry as the replacement of PET bottles with the
glass bottles will increase the cost of medicine.
The
association has made a representation to the health ministry after the
Drug Technical Advisory Board (DTAB)'s proposal to ban the PET
containers in pharma packing. In the 71st meeting of DTAB the board has
raised the issue of restricting the use PET containers for packing. The
association has also submitted various scientific, techno-commercial and
logistic reasons for continued use of PET bottles, proving its safety
and merits in pharma packing.
The association explained that the
use of glass container will add to the costs as there is 2-3 per cent
loss in the glass bottles that occur due to breakage during transport.
As per a study specific to pharma industry, 1.50 lakh of PET bottles can
be transported in container vs 90 K glass bottles (100 ml), as weight
of PET bottles case is 10 times lower than glass bottles case.
Transportation costs and packing costs of corrugated boxes will
drastically increase due to the increased weight of glass bottles.
The
mono cartons will also be required for each glass bottle thus adding to
the costs, all these leading to an estimated 25 to 30 per cent cost
increase per bottle, which will in turn increase the cost of medicines
that are supplied in glass bottles. Due to the increased demand for
glass bottles, the prices of glass bottles will shoot up, as demand will
be much more than supply, which will further lead to severe shortages
as small and medium pharma companies may not be able to afford to
purchase the glass bottles at the increased prices.
The
alternative to use of PET is glass as containers in pharma. The total
pharma market of PET is 1 lakh metric ton (MT) per year. To replace this
will require 9 lakh MT of glass per year, due to the higher weight.
This could lead to severe shortages of liquid medicines if one considers
the entire pharma industry's requirements in glass.
The pharma
industry does use glass bottles in certain instances, where amber
coloured containers are required to protect the medicine from being
damaged by light. However, there is already drastic shortage of raw
materials needed for glass and hence manufacturers of glass bottles may
not be able to meet the requirements. New units or expansion of existing
units would need a minimum of 2 to 3 years lead time, said IDMA.
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