Manufacture date on bottles a must, says glass makers' association

In an attempt to check reuse of bottles, the All-India Glass Manufacturers' Federation (AIGMF) is making it mandatory for its members to mark the date of manufacturing of bottles on their products. The members would be asked to mark the date on bottles used in the food and beverages and pharma sectors.

"We have decided to implement it and all the members have been asked to incorporate the period of manufacturing on glass bottles from July," an AIGMF spokesperson, Sanjay Jain, said.

AIGMF is the sole representative body of all categories of glass manufacturers in the country. The basic objective of the "traceability initiative" is to stop unwarranted usage of recycled bottles in the food and beverage and pharma products and protect consumers from the harmful effects of reused bottles. Traceability in packaging is a worldwide phenomenon and is practiced to identify a specific lot of product to be recalled.

In the developed markets, Jain said, glass packaging is a one-time phenomenon, but in India reuse of glass bottle is prevalent in various segments such as soft drink, beer, liquor, and even in food and beverages sector. Jain said that the marking on the bottles would help manufacturers to ensure that their products were packed safely in clean glass containers apart from curtailing illegal manufacture by reduced usage of unaccounted packaging materials.

"With the date of manufacturing marked on the bottle, it will be easier for a manufacturer and a consumer to understand if the bottles are second-hand or fresh," he said.

AIGMF would start extensive consumer awareness effort to communicate its objective. A three-member committee, headed by the organisations' Secretary General, would monitor the implementation.

The total glass industry is worth Rs 4,500 crore in India and employs over 5 million people.