Government Establishes Self Regulation Platform For Food Companies

The proposal by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to introduce health star ratings on the front of food packaging has faced opposition due to a lack of agreement among food companies, health organizations, consumer advocates, and the regulatory body.

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) officials believe that health star ratings will not effectively reduce the consumption of unhealthy foods, and instead advocate for direct warning labels.

In contrast, packaged food companies prefer the use of star ratings. Currently, Indian food companies are only required to display basic nutrient information on the back of the packaging, while front-pack labeling has been proven effective in reducing the consumption of unhealthy foods globally.

Last year in September, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), which operates under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, published a draft regulation that proposed a labelling system based on star ratings. This was the largest labelling reform for packaged foods in India.

The FSSAI had requested feedback on the proposed star rating-based labelling system until November, and it was expected that the final guidelines would be released within two months after the comment period ended.

“The health star ratings misinform consumers and do not compel industry to make their food products healthier whereas a warning label provides instant recognition of unhealthy foods.” said Ashim Sanyal, chief executive of activist body Consumer Voice and former member of the Central Advisory Committee of FSSAI.

The star rating system is a type of symbol-based labelling that does not provide upfront information on the exact amount of salt, sugar, or fat content in written text.

The rating is determined based on the levels of healthy and unhealthy nutrients present, while direct warning labels will only indicate excessive levels of salt, sugar, or fats.

On Monday, the Centre named Ganji Kamala Vardhana Rao as the new CEO of the Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) with the rank and salary of Secretary to the Government of India, more than three months after Arun Singhal left his position as Union Secretary, Ministry of Fertilizers.

Prior to this, Rao held the dual position of DG, Tourism and MD of India Tourism Development Corporation Ltd (ITDC). The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare oversees the FSSAI.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in Maharashtra has issued an order on Wednesday asking food vendors not to wrap any eatables in newspapers while selling them to customers as the ink used for printing is harmful.

“In 2016, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had issued pan-India advisory, banning newspapers to be used for wrapping food items,” shared Shivaji Desai, Joint Commissioner, FDA by adding that they received complaints that the use of newspapers by vendors is still on. Therefore, in order to create awareness, the FDA has issued this order.

Directing the vendors to stop giving food items like 'vada pav', 'poha', sweets, and others wrapped in newspapers to customers, the FDA also warned of a strict action if the practice is not stopped.

"While giving a food parcel, the vendors often wrap the items in a newspaper. Since the ink used for printing the newspapers is made up of chemicals, offering hot food items like vada pav, pohe, fritters, bhel, bakery products and several other such food items, wrapped in newspapers can be dangerous," shared FDA in the statement.

"The vendors should stop wrapping the eatable in newspapers immediately or else strict action will be taken," it added.

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has signed an MoU with food processing ministry to support micro-level food entrepreneurs and Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs).

The MoU, signed on 2^nd October, also aims to support Self Help Groups (SHGs) and producers’ cooperatives to improve the standard of their food businesses.

Also Read: FSSAI ने सूक्ष्म स्तर के फूड उद्यमियों की मदद के लिए फूड प्रोसेसिंग मंत्रालय से किया करार

"As part of Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan, this step will help in making micro enterprises improve the quality of their food products and become competitive," shared the statement.

There will be two areas of collaboration between FSSAI and Ministry of Food Processing Industries; food safety training and registration of micro enterprises.

Food handlers of micro-level food processing units will be provided training on understanding of good hygiene, food testing process and other regulatory requirements.

On successful completion of training, the food handlers will be provided 'Food Safety Supervisor' certificate by FSSAI.

FSSAI and the ministry would provide support to micro enterprises towards obtaining FSSAI licence and registration.

Food safety and Standards Authority of India on Monday shared that there is a plan to introduce front-of-package (FoP) labeling on packaged foods to help consumer make healthier food choices.

Expressing concern over increasing consumption of junk food leading to obesity in youth and children in India, Arun Singhal, CEO, FSSAI said this.

The food safety body has also asked IIM Ahmedabad to conduct a survey on the nature of FoP labels in the interest of consumers, shared Singhal during 15th anniversary of formation of FSSAI.

Front of Package labels seek to provide simple nutrition information in a more accessible location instead on the back or side of packages.

Asserting that FSSAI is capable of introducing this kind of label in India, Singhal said it has become necessary as obesity along with malnutrition is also a big problem in the country especially in youth and children.

"There is a rise in demand for packaged food. There is a need to provide information in a simple way about the impact of packaged food on health so that consumers can make choices," he added.

He also pointed that countries that uses FoP labels saw reduction in consumption of junk food.

"The technical issues have been settled, but only one issue is left, that is, the nature of the FoP label. For this, IIM Ahmedabad has been asked to conduct a survey," added Singhal.

Food safety and standards authority of India has suspended the licences of 15 food business operators in Kerala.

These operators failed to comply with the requisite mandatory safety audits despite repeated reminders.

FSSAI has directed carrying out of audits of FBOs through private auditing agencies to strengthen the food safety surveillance system.

In a statement on Tuesday, the food safety body mentioned that even after repeated intimation and issuance of improvement notices twice, the 15 FBOs belonging to the Kerala region have not conducted any third-party food safety audits.

"Non-compliance of mandatory audits by above FBOs in high risk food business operations has been viewed seriously and their FSSAI licence has been suspended with effect from September 13 fore-noon by Central Designated Officer, Kerala & Lakshadweep in accordance with section 32 (2) of Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 rules and regulations made thereunder," shared the statement.

These businesses are spread across Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur, Ernakulam, Kottayam, Kannur, Malappuram, Wayanad and Palakkad.

These include Uday Samudra Leisure Beach Hotel & Spa, Thiruvananthapuram; Lite Bite Foods Pvt Ltd, Kannur; and Kovalam Resort Pvt Ltd, The Leela Kovalam, Thiruvananthapuram. The Food Safety and Standards (Food Safety Auditing) Regulations, 2018, mandate annual third-party food safety audits of food businesses falling under six high risk categories by an FSSAI-recognised agency.

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India on Tuesday shared that it is exploring the possibility of using next generation technological tools like blockchain and machine learning to ensure food safety and quality.

“These regulatory inspections are essential for ensuring food safety and quality for people,” shared Arun Singhal, CEO, FSSAI during a virtual event organised by industry chamber CII.

Singhal urged the industry and researchers to come up with simple tools or interventions which regulators can use, reported PTI.

The food safety body is lo0oking for a technique to detect the ratio of materials in a blend, a tool to prevent food fraud, real-time safety monitoring through affordable and rapid testing, among others.

"FSSAI is exploring the possibilities of using technological tools like blockchain, machine learning, etc in obtaining traceability information. Next generation tools like genome sequencing and innovations in chemical and molecular analysis can be very useful in the area of food authenticity and integrity,” added Singhal.

Singhal is also of the opinion that Internet of Things (IoT) has taken a big leap forward and can be used for mounting production and processing operations.

With regard to recycled-PET and recycled plastics for food products, Singhal said FSSAI has promulgated regulations to allow alternate packaging materials.

"However, the authority is also aware of the limitations. These materials are not available in volumes that are desired by the industry," he said, and urged the industry, academia and research bodies to explore ways of making these materials available in sufficient volumes at reasonable prices.

For FSSAI, Singhal said the major thrust areas are simplification of the regulatory regime, IT platforms, and registering as many food businesses as possible.

The Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) is requesting the food safety body FSSAI to extend the deadline for mentioning FSSAI license number on bills as asked by the operator earlier.

FHRAI on Monday said it has made a representation to food safety regulator FSSAI on this.

Earlier this month, Food safety and Standards Authority of India has mandated food business operators to mention FSSAI licence or registration number on cash receipts or purchase invoice with effect from October 1 2021.

Also Read: Restaurants, food businesses to mention FSSAI licence no. on invoice/bills from Oct

FHRAI said that it is in favour of the FSSAI's latest order. However, the hospitality body has requested the regulator to take into consideration the COVID-hit industry's on-going crisis and the additional expense burden that businesses would have to incur to implement new systems, including the printing of new receipts, invoices, bills, cash memos and updating of the software.

"FHRAI appreciates the FSSAI's endeavour to set up a robust customer grievance system in the country. This will also improve the overall awareness of the FSSAI and its underlying objectives of creating a safe and hygienic ecosystem for FBOs," shared Gurbaxish Singh Kohli, VP, FHRAI Vice President in a statement.

While this is a great initiative, Kohli added it has to be taken into account that at present, tourism and hospitality is the most impacted sector by the COVID pandemic.

"During such times of deep crisis, the implementation of this order would entail a lot of additional expenses on businesses. Hence, we request FSSAI to extend the timeline for implementation of the order until such time that some normalcy returns to the sector," he added.

Food safety and Standards Authority of India has mandated food business operators to mention FSSAI licence or registration number on cash receipts or purchase invoice with effect from October 1 2021.

Since complaints remain unresolved due to lack of specific information, this move will help consumers who can lodge an online complaint against a particular food business using the FSSAI number, added the regulator in the statement.

"Licensing and registration authorities are directed to widely publicise the policy and shall ensure its implementation mandatorily with effect from October 2, 2021," added the order.

Mentioning of FSSAI number shall also improve the overall awareness, it said if not mentioned, it will indicate non-compliance or non registration/licensing by the food business.

Stating that the food business ecosystem is large, the regulator said 14-digit FSSAI number of any food business operator is not "easily visible and available on consumer/service recipient."

If the FSSAI number is not available to consumers, expecting him to complain with complete coordinates is an uphill task. Even regulators find it difficult to trace the origin of complaint and attend to it promptly, it said. No database can be created without a unique locator code, which in case of food safety is the FSSAI number, it added.

Presently, FSSAI number is compulsory to be displayed on packaged food labels but the issue lies especially in case of establishments such as restaurants, mithai shops, caterers, even retail stores.

Further, food safety body also mentioned that it is amending the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses Regulations to mandate display of 'food safety display boards' at all times at prominent places in case of restaurants.

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India on Tuesday said it has written to states to ensure there is no disruption in food supply chain amid curfews and semi-lockdown in many parts of the country.

FSSAI also clarified that food testing and import clearance of food items are an essential service.

Routine inspections are not required except in high risk products like milk and meat.

To facilitate the continuity of food business operations during the prevailing COVID-19 outbreak, FSSAI said it has taken immediate steps to ensure un-interrupted food services/ supply.

"FSSAI has written to all states to ensure no disruption of food supply chains and that regulatory compliance requirements are not an impediment for operation of any food business," shared the release.

It has also issued direction to allow FBOs (food business operators), other than manufacturers, to temporarily operate their businesses on the basis of a valid receipt of FSSAI licence/ registration application.

This will enable quick expansion of logistic supply chains, warehouses, retail outlets, catering and food service establishments, wherever required, it said.

New businesses can start operating once they successfully file a complete application.

This is an interim relief measure, the licence/ registration will need to be secured before the expiry of the relaxation.

Manufacturers are allowed to increase their capacity, on the basis of a valid receipt of FSSAI licence/ registration application.

"No routine inspections are required to be done, except in case of high-risk food product viz. milk and milk products, slaughter houses, meat and meat products, etc," added the statement.

However, food safety authorities can conduct inspections in case of select cases on basis of risk profiling or in case of any food emergency/ incidents and complaints.

Wherever feasible, inspections can be done by e-inspection.

The deadline for returns for 2020-21 has been extended till June 2021. No penalty shall be payable for late filing of application for renewal of licences.

"These measures are until and shall cease with effect from June 30, irrespective of the status of lockdown, curfew or containment at any location," added FSSAI.

Food safety and standards authority of India has extended the deadline by six months till July 1, 2021 for the food business operators (FBOs) to comply with the regulations related to limit of calcium and magnesium in packaged drinking water, other than mineral water.

FSSAI had earlier extended the deadline to July 1, 2020 and subsequently till January 1, 2021.

The food safety body said in a statement that representation has been received from a section of stakeholders requesting for further extension of time since FBOs are not yet prepared to comply with regulations due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"It has been decided to further extend the timeline for compliance related to limits of calcium and magnesium for the standards of Packaged Drinking Water (other than mineral water) up to July 1," shared FSSAI statement.

These standards on packaged drinking water are prescribed in the Food Safety and Standards (Food Product Standards and Food Additives) fourth amendment regulations, 2019.

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India on Tuesday asked state food commissioners to conduct effective enforcement drive to check adulteration in spices.

In a letter to Commissioner of Food Safety of all States/UTs, FSSAI mentioned that there have been media reports about sale of adulterated spices in the domestic market.

Also Read: Restaurant Owners welcome FSSAI move on registration for home-cooked meals

"Instances have been reported recently in media regarding the sale of adulterated spices in domestic market. As per one such report, spices like dhaniya powder is being adulterated with bajra and dhaniya stem whereas turmeric powder is being adulterated with broken rice which is mixed with yellow colour," said the FSSAI letter.

The food safety body has also asked state food commissioners to conduct an effective enforcement drive to check the adulteration of commonly used spices like haldi, dhaniya, lal mirch powder etc in wholesale markets/mandis under their jurisdictions.

May Interest: ‘Best Before Date’ on open sweets mandatory from Oct1, FSSAI

"Further, the necessary action as deemed fit may be initiated against the defaulting Food Business Operators as per the provision laid down under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, Rules and Regulations 2011 made thereunder," it added

In view of the deadly coronavirus disease originating from a meat market at Wuhan in China, India's food regulator FSSAI on Monday said it has stepped up efforts to improve hygiene and sanitation in the country's meat and fish markets.

Expressing concern over poor hygiene in the meat and fish sector, Pawan Agarwal, CEO, Food and Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) said it has been auditing slaughter houses for the last six months.

“The audit of government slaughter houses has been completed. The third party sample audit of 5,500 private slaughter houses is underway, of which around 60 have been audited so far,” he added.

The FSSAI said it will soon start hygiene rating of fish and meat shops in the country.

"There is no impact of coronavirus. However because of this incident, there is awareness about hygiene in the country. We are trying to improve hygiene and sanitation efficiency in meat and fish markets," Agarwal added.

Hygiene in the country's fish and meat markets is "not good", he said but exuded confidence that the situation will improve in the coming years due to its efforts.

The coronavirus outbreak originated in central China's Hubei province in December last year and has spread to several countries, including India.

Many countries have banned arrivals from China while major airlines have suspended flights to the country.

Earlier, FSSAI chairperson Rita Teaotia announced that the regulator has decided to set up six new branch offices, four new import offices and two new food laboratories as part of its effort to boost in-house capacity.

With this, FSSAI will have four regional offices in New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata, 12 branch offices and 6 import offices.

In addition, it will have four national food laboratories at Kolkata, Ghaziabad (Delhi NCR), Mumbai JNPT and Chennai and two food laboratories at Sanauli and Raxaul on Indo-Nepal border.

FSSAI's new branch offices will be in Bhopal, Chandigarh, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Visakhapatnam and Hyderabad and the new import offices will be at Attari, Kandla, Raxaul and Krishnapatnam.

The FSSAI plans to set up two new food laboratories at Mumbai JNPT and Chennai. Built-up space for the purpose is being taken on long-term lease from Chennai and JNPT Mumbai port authorities.

The Food Safety & Standards Authority of India has allowed craft breweries to continue making beer with higher yeast content.

The result has come as a huge relief for the microbreweries in the country.

FSSAI shared that regular beer or lager should be free of yeast while draught beer should have yeast content of at most 40 CFU (colony-forming units).

The notification had not put craft beer into a separate category, which had put the breweries in a tizzy as many craft beers have yeast content as high as 3 million CFU. "The Food Safety & Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) Regulations, 2018 will be implemented in effect from 1st April 2019, except the parameter for yeast in various categories of beer," said FSSAI in a notification on Friday.

The Craft Brewers Association of India (CBAI) had made a representation earlier this month that it was difficult to operate under the limits ordered by the regulator and wanted a clarification whether yeast was being classified as a contaminant or a raw material, one that is a basic ingredient in beer.

As part of the notification, the FSSAI also clarified that it will provide drinks makers another six months for use of old unused labels and printed cans. Following a directive last year, all liquor bottles were supposed to carry cautionary messages of "Drinking is injurious to health" and "Don't Drink and Drive" on their labels from April 1. "Alcoholic beverages manufactured prior to 1st April 2019 can be sold in the market up to 31st March 2020," FSSAI said.

Seeking to promote safe and healthy food, FSSAI today said it will provide a training tool kit to health workers at the proposed 1.5 lakh wellness centres under the Ayushman Bharat Scheme for raising public awareness on the issue at the grass root levels.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) will tomorrow launch a national campaign -- The Eat Right Movement -- with health and wellness centres to integrate its existing initiatives 'Safe and Nutritious Food' (SNF) at schools, home and workplace as well as food fortification, its CEO Pawan Kumar Agarwal said.

"Under this movement, we have developed a tool kit for health workers as well as citizens. This will be made available and integrated to 1.5 lakh health and wellness centres. We want to scale up our existing initiatives and reach out to masses," he told .

The Eat Right tool kit would serve as a supplementary engagement resource to be mainstreamed in the national nutrition and public health programmes, he said, adding that the focus is on preventive healthcare through social and behavioral change on eating safe and healthy food.

FSSAI's Chief Management Service Officer Madhavi Das said the tool kit has clear and simple message on eating healthy food and avoiding food with high fat, sugar and salt.

It also includes components on eating safe such as maintaining hygiene and sanitation and food adulteration.

"We are also bringing out TV commercial as well as posters to spread awareness about eating safe and healthy food," she said.

The tool kit is designed to provide food safety and nutrition messages for citizens in an interesting and engaging manner.

It aims to train frontline health workers, under the Ayushman Bharat, ASHA and Anganwadi schemes, to deliver these messages effectively to prevent non-communicable diseases like diabetes, obesity and heart ailments, and avoid food borne diseases.

"Healthy diet is one of the key responses to the rising incidence of non-communicable diseases," Das said.

Under the Ayushman Bharat Scheme, the government aims to open 1.5 lakh health and wellness centre by 2022, which would be equipped to treat host of diseases, including blood pressure, diabetes, cancer and old-age illness.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has proposed to introduce GMO labeling for the first time revealing the presence of genetically modified (GM) ingredients clearly state it on their labels.

The country’s food regulator also suggests mandatory declaration by packaged food manufacturers about nutritional information such as calories, total fat, trans fat, sugar and salt per serve on the front of the pack. Since the country has no provision for GM labeling in its regulatory mechanism currently, consumers are clueless whether packaged food items they buy have genetically engineered (GE) ingredients.

The FSSAI had last month released a 42-page draft notice — Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2018 — making it mandatory to label such foodstuffs as “contains GMO/Ingredients derived from GMO” if such items contain 5% or more GE ingredients.

Pitching for a colour code, the draft proposes that the high fat, sugar, and salt will be colored ‘red’ in case the value of energy from total sugar is more than 10% of the total energy provided by the 100 gram or 100 ml of the product. It has similar provisions for trans-fat and sodium content.

Draft says that the nutritional information may additionally be provided in the form of a barcode. The color coding will make it easier for consumers to know about the nutritional value of food products.

The issue of labeling of food products having GM ingredients has, however, drawn flak from certain quarters.

Sridhar Radhakrishnan, co-convener of the Coalition for a GM-Free India, who sent the group’s objections on the draft to the FSSAI told TOI that the labelling move will, in fact, allow the GM foods to enter food supply chain when it is anyway illegal to sell GM foods in India currently. “We need preventive action at this juncture rather than regulatory action”, he said.

FSSAI has entered into an agreement with US-based Company Decernis, which will help it to get access to database of over 70,000 standards for food additives, food standards, food contact and contaminants from over 170 countries, the organisation said in a statement.

According to Food Safety and Standard Authority of India this database will facilitate in process of standards setting as the system will provide a single platform to search for international regulations which will enable the scientific panels in understanding the global standards and also benchmarking Indian regulation to international standards.

"As per the good regulatory practices, international practices are required to be taken into account, while framing the national standards or guidelines. This module would help FSSAI in accessing various regulations and practices followed globally," shares Pawan Agarwal, CEO- FSSAI.

Under this agreement, Decernis will integrate Indian draft and final standards into its systems to improve the understanding and compliance of users. FSSAI will also assist in occasional client questions regarding the regulations of food standards, food additives, food contact substances, contaminants and pesticide residues. 

Food safety body FSSAI is collecting samples of milk and honey sold in the market to check quality of these two food items after it received consumer complaints.

“FSSAI has set up an expert panel to review the existing standards to simplify and streamline the quality norms,” shared Pawan Agarwal, CEO, FSSAI on the side line of CII’s Food Safety and Quality summit.

"Surveillance is a big area. We are taking up surveillance in few commodities. As we speak the surveillance on honey and milk is going on," Agarwal said, adding that it would be done in more products, going forward.

"We have been receiving complaints in milk and honey. So, we are collecting samples of these two commodities," added Agarwal.

Earlier addressing the event, Agarwal said FSSAI has accelerated the pace of standard settings in the country.

"Substantive work has been done and some of the work that remains to be done is in advance stages. We should probably have most of the standards that are perhaps needed to ensure safe food in the next few months," Agarwal said.

The regulator has recently set standards for fortification of six food items as well as for nutraceuticals and health supplements.

He said the panel comprising various stakeholders to review the present standards will submit its suggestions and the same will be considered by the scientific committee.

According to Agarwal, FSSAI has done reasonable work in setting standards for food products in the last five years of operations, but he expressed concern about the enforcement of food quality standards.