NEW DELHI, JULY 6:
Food regulator FSSAI today assured the food supplements and nutraceuticals industry that it is open to making changes in the new standards to support growth of the sector, but without compromising on consumers interest.
The Food Safety and Standards (Health Supplements, Nutraceuticals, Food for Special Dietary Use, Food for Special Medical Purpose, Functional Food and Novel Food) Regulations was issued last December. The Food Business Operators (FBOs) need to comply with these standards by January 1, 2018.
Addressing a Assocham conference on nutraceuticals, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) CEO Pawan Kumar Agarwal expressed concern over the increasing number of spurious food supplement products in the market.
“We released standards on food supplements and nutraceuticals few months ago. There were some concerns from the industry but we went ahead and released the standards. But our effort is not to cast them in stone as these are evolving standards,” Agarwal said.
“I want to assure the industry that if there are concerns, we are still open to change that. We have five-six months time before this regulations come in force. So, hopefully, we will iron out differences,” he said.
On the sidelines, the FSSAI CEO said that it has got many representation from the industry seeking some changes in the regulations related to inclusion of ingredients.
“Food supplements is a difficult sector to regulate. But for us consumers interest is paramount and non-negotiable,” he said, asking manufacturers to be cautious in declaring any claims about the products.
The FSSAI has set up a technical panel, which includes representation from industry as well, to prepare a framework for Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP).
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