Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), organised a technical discussion under its outreach initiative Manak Manthan on the theme “Indian Standards on Non-Chlorinated Plastic Biomedical Waste Bags” at the BIS Southern Regional Office, Chennai on 29 August 2025.
The programme began with a Welcome Address by Shri S. D. Dayanand, Scientist-F / Senior Director & Head, BIS, Chennai Branch Office. He underlined the importance of standards in healthcare waste management, emphasising that safe and eco-friendly alternatives to chlorinated plastics are critical in minimising the environmental and health risks associated with biomedical waste. Shri S. D. Dayanand remarked that this standard is recently published in July 2025 and Biomedical waste management is a pressing public health and environmental issue. By promoting standards on non-chlorinated plastic biomedical waste bags, BIS is enabling healthcare facilities to transition towards safer and greener practices.
In Inaugural Address, Dr. Meenakshi Ganesan, Scientist-G / Deputy Director General (South), BIS, spoke about the role of BIS in framing standards that balance public health and environmental sustainability. She highlighted the government’s thrust on reducing hazardous plastic use and how the Indian Standard provides structured guidance for hospitals, healthcare facilities, and biomedical waste handlers. She informed that standards play a pivotal role in ensuring quality, safety, and uniformity in adoption. Dr. Meenakshi Ganesan added, “This initiative reinforces our commitment to sustainable healthcare. BIS will continue to engage with stakeholders to ensure that standards are not only developed but also effectively adopted at the ground level.”
Delivering the Keynote Address, Dr. Syed Amanulla, Chief Manager (INI, Incubation, Start-up), CIPET Head Office, Guindy, stressed on the need for innovation and industry–academia collaborations in developing cost-effective, scalable, and environmentally safe biomedical waste management solutions. He informed that plastics are integral part of our daily needs and should be responsibly disposed off.
The Technical Session was led by Ms. Nagavarshini M, Scientist-C / Deputy Director, Medical Equipment and Hospital Planning Department, BIS. She provided a detailed explanation of the standard on Non-Chlorinated Plastic Biomedical Waste Bags, including specifications, performance requirements, testing methods, and implementation guidelines. The session aimed to create awareness among stakeholders and encourage adoption of non-chlorinated alternatives in healthcare facilities.
An Open House Session followed, where participants raised queries on standard implementation, quality assurance mechanisms, waste segregation practices, and monitoring systems. Programme witnessed active participation from 80 healthcare officials, plastic film/bag manufacturers, laboratories and students from BIS Standards Club of educational institutions. Stakeholders appreciated BIS’s efforts in aligning national standards with sustainability goals and facilitating dialogue between industry, regulators, and users. Participants are encouraged to download the BIS Care App to stay informed and updated about Standards.
The Manak Manthan session reinforced BIS’s role as a bridge between standard-setting and industry adoption, helping ensure that Indian Standards contribute directly to public welfare and sustainable development.