--- title: "Bidders certify no animal tallow as polymer notes bid advances" url: https://projectchintan.com/article/polymer-notes-bidders-no-animal-tallow-2o01p publisher: Project Chintan author: Project Chintan Newsroom section: Politics published: 2026-08-31T00:00:31.722Z modified: 2026-08-31T02:30:03.742Z language: en-IN --- # Bidders certify no animal tallow as polymer notes bid advances Indian Express reports BRBNMPL's EOI for polymer substrate bids includes integrity and firewall clauses, no animal tallow certification, and an expected 68,000 reams. Multiple foreign and Indian players participate, with De La Rue involved as a partner and CCL Secure and Cosmo First among bidders. ## Key takeaways - BRBNMPL invited bids for polymer substrate sheets with security features for India's polymer banknotes. - Bidders are required to sign integrity, confidentiality, and no-agent agreements and to firewall operations from China and Pakistan. - Bid submissions must certify that the polymer substrate contains no animal tallow or its DNA. ## What Happened Indian and foreign firms have submitted bids in response to an offshore and domestic expression of interest from BRBNMPL, the Reserve Bank of India’s note subsidiary. The EOI, issued with an August 18 deadline, seeks polymer substrate sheets with built-in security features for printing Indian banknotes. Bidders are required to sign an integrity pact, a confidentiality contract, a no-agent agreement, and undertake that their operations in India will be firewalled from operations in China and Pakistan. They must also certify that their polymer substrate contains no animal tallow or DNA derived from it for supplies to BRBNMPL. BRBNMPL has indicated an immediate requirement and an approximate need for 68,000 reams of polymer substrate, with each ream containing 500 sheets. Samples must be provided with bids and will be tested across climatic conditions before potential eligibility for a final tender. The EOI documents note that bidders were not required to prove their financial standing at this qualifying stage. Among the bidders, Cosmo First—an Indian exporter of BOPP polymer—and a domestic substrate manufacturer collaborating with UK banknote maker De La Rue appear to be in the running. The foreign major CCL Secure, based in Australia, is another participant. De La Rue, a veteran supplier of banknote technology, has publicly framed polymer notes as cleaner, greener, more secure, and durable. A Vietnamese private firm, Q&T Hi-tech Polymer Company Limited, is also mentioned as having bid for the BRBNMPL EOI, with reports noting it previously supplied banknotes domestically in Vietnam and claims substantial lifecycle savings for polymer versus cotton paper. ## Why It Matters The move signals India’s cautious progression toward polymer-based, low-denomination banknotes, with security and provenance controls being built into supplier agreements. The inclusion of firewall commitments points to geopolitical risk mitigation amid concerns about cross-border influence. The outcome could influence the timeline and design of India’s early polymer notes, particularly the Rs 10 and Rs 20 denominations mentioned in the bidding context. ## Background BRBNMPL issued an expression of interest for polymer substrate sheets as part of India’s broader exploration of polymer currency alternatives. The banknote transition has previously been linked to debates over animal tallow in polymer substrates, a concern cited in other countries and a factor in RBI’s hesitations around polymer adoption. De La Rue, which has supported polymer banknote programs in multiple countries, is identified as a technical partner to some Indian bidders in the current process. ## Key Facts - BRBNMPL issued an August deadline of August 18 for the EOI for polymer substrate sheets. - Minimum requirement cited: approximately 68,000 reams, each with 500 sheets, for polymer substrate samples. - Bidders must sign integrity, confidentiality, and no-agent pacts and firewall operations from India relative to China and Pakistan. - Bidder certifications include that the polymer substrate contains no animal tallow or its DNA for BRBNMPL supplies. - Reported bidders include Cosmo First (Indian), De La Rue (UK partner), CCL Secure (Australia), and Q&T Hi-tech Polymer (Vietnam), with potential collaboration with Indian and foreign entities. - BRBNMPL’s stated aim is to pursue polymer banknotes initially in Rs 10 and Rs 20 denominations. ## What Happens Next The next phase will involve testing samples from eligible bidders in various climatic conditions to determine final eligibility for tender, followed by the formal tender process and contract awards if the bidders meet all conditions, including the firewall and animal-tallow certifications. --- Canonical: https://projectchintan.com/article/polymer-notes-bidders-no-animal-tallow-2o01p Reported from: Multiple Sources