PUNE:
Food products manufactured and sold in India will now have to bear the
logo and registration or licence number of the Food Safety and Standard
Authority of India (FSSAI).
Every food business operator must obtain a 14-digit registration or a licence number which must be printed on food packages.
The move will help consumers know if the product has undergone quality checks and bring down the instances of substandard products, reduce the number of bogus manufacturers and enhance accountability among food manufacturers. The deadline for complying with the provisions is July 1, 2014.
According to the Food Safety and Standards Act India (FSSAI) 2006, every food manufacturer should get a licence from the Food and Drug Authority or an authority connected to FSSAI. If the food manufacturer has an annual income of less than Rs 12 lakh, a process of registration is enough. The centralised act has been implemented to promote safe food across the country. The act came into force in August 2011.
"As per the union government's notification and the amendment of the Food Safety and Standards (packaging and labelling) Amendment Regulation, 2013, it is necessary to print an FSSAI licence/registration number and FSSAI logo on the packaging of food products. This notification would help the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) track manufacturers who do not have FSSAI licences/registration," said Shashikant Kekare, joint commissioner (food), Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), Pune.
Dilip Sangat, assistant commissioner (food), FDA, Pune said, "The first notification was issued in June 2013. It had set December 7, 2013 as the deadline for complying with the norms. The food authority, after due consideration of issues raised by the stakeholders, has issued guidelines and extended the date for complying with the norms up to July 1, 2014."
The move will bring down the number of illegal or bogus manufacturers and put all food manufacturers on the FDA's radar, ensuring more quality checks on food manufactured and sold here, Sangat added.
Vilas Bhujbal, a trader from Gultekdi, said, "The notification should be implemented in letter and spirit to ensure stringent quality checks and bring down adulteration."
How to read the numbers
The 14-digit number provides information about the manufacturer's licence or registration details, and the manufacturing state. The number encompasses essential information about the manufacturer and is divided into five parts. The first single digit indicates whether the manufacturer is a licence holder or simply registered, the next two digits provide the state code, the following two digits give the year the manufacturer was registered/licenced with FSSAI. The licensing authority or registering authority is disclosed in the next three digits and remaining are the manufacturer's licence/registration number.
The guidelines
* The FSSAI logo and licence number of the brand owner shall be displayed on the label of the food package in colour that is in contrast to the background in case of multiple units (manufacturer/packer/
* The addresses of the multiple units on the label should carry the licence number as Lic No xxxxxxxx. In addition, the licence number of manufacturing unit where product is prepared shall also be displayed along with the lot number
* In case of imported food products, the importer shall display FSSAI logo and licence number along with the name and address of importer on a sticker to be affixed before customs clearance
* The height of letters and numeral of licence number shall be as prescribed in Food Safety and Standard (Packaging and Labelling) Regulation, 2011.
* The regulation of Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and labellin) Regulations, 2011 shall be applicable for this provision
* The display of FSSAI logo on the label of the food product is not a mark of certification but it signifies that the food business operator (FBO) holds a valid licence under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006
* The licence number and logo are allowed to be displayed on the label until the validity of the licence as per regulation of the Food Safety and Standards (Business and registration on food business) Regulations, 2011
Every food business operator must obtain a 14-digit registration or a licence number which must be printed on food packages.
The move will help consumers know if the product has undergone quality checks and bring down the instances of substandard products, reduce the number of bogus manufacturers and enhance accountability among food manufacturers. The deadline for complying with the provisions is July 1, 2014.
According to the Food Safety and Standards Act India (FSSAI) 2006, every food manufacturer should get a licence from the Food and Drug Authority or an authority connected to FSSAI. If the food manufacturer has an annual income of less than Rs 12 lakh, a process of registration is enough. The centralised act has been implemented to promote safe food across the country. The act came into force in August 2011.
"As per the union government's notification and the amendment of the Food Safety and Standards (packaging and labelling) Amendment Regulation, 2013, it is necessary to print an FSSAI licence/registration number and FSSAI logo on the packaging of food products. This notification would help the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) track manufacturers who do not have FSSAI licences/registration," said Shashikant Kekare, joint commissioner (food), Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), Pune.
Dilip Sangat, assistant commissioner (food), FDA, Pune said, "The first notification was issued in June 2013. It had set December 7, 2013 as the deadline for complying with the norms. The food authority, after due consideration of issues raised by the stakeholders, has issued guidelines and extended the date for complying with the norms up to July 1, 2014."
The move will bring down the number of illegal or bogus manufacturers and put all food manufacturers on the FDA's radar, ensuring more quality checks on food manufactured and sold here, Sangat added.
Vilas Bhujbal, a trader from Gultekdi, said, "The notification should be implemented in letter and spirit to ensure stringent quality checks and bring down adulteration."
How to read the numbers
The 14-digit number provides information about the manufacturer's licence or registration details, and the manufacturing state. The number encompasses essential information about the manufacturer and is divided into five parts. The first single digit indicates whether the manufacturer is a licence holder or simply registered, the next two digits provide the state code, the following two digits give the year the manufacturer was registered/licenced with FSSAI. The licensing authority or registering authority is disclosed in the next three digits and remaining are the manufacturer's licence/registration number.
The guidelines
* The FSSAI logo and licence number of the brand owner shall be displayed on the label of the food package in colour that is in contrast to the background in case of multiple units (manufacturer/packer/
* The addresses of the multiple units on the label should carry the licence number as Lic No xxxxxxxx. In addition, the licence number of manufacturing unit where product is prepared shall also be displayed along with the lot number
* In case of imported food products, the importer shall display FSSAI logo and licence number along with the name and address of importer on a sticker to be affixed before customs clearance
* The height of letters and numeral of licence number shall be as prescribed in Food Safety and Standard (Packaging and Labelling) Regulation, 2011.
* The regulation of Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and labellin) Regulations, 2011 shall be applicable for this provision
* The display of FSSAI logo on the label of the food product is not a mark of certification but it signifies that the food business operator (FBO) holds a valid licence under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006
* The licence number and logo are allowed to be displayed on the label until the validity of the licence as per regulation of the Food Safety and Standards (Business and registration on food business) Regulations, 2011
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