FSSAI proposes norms for nutraceuticals

Aiming to check mis-labelling of 'health supplements', Food safety watchdog FSSAI has come out with gazetted regulations proposing to ban the sale of such products as 'medicines'.

At the same time, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has also framed regulations for products based on ayurveda, sidhha, unani and other traditional health systems.

The regulator has proposed to fix the permissible limits of various ingredients used in the products, which are based on traditional health systems.

"Every package of food or health supplements shall carry the information on the label... the words FOOD or HEALTH SUPPLEMENT... the term 'NOT FOR MEDICINAL USE' shall be prominently written on the label," as per a draft order issued by FSSAI.

Under the new regulations proposed by the authority, companies can not claim that their nutraceuticals and health supplement products are for therapeutic and curative purposes.

FSSAI has also proposed the maximum usage levels for cow's milk, buffalo's milk, camel's milk, ghee, curd, butter, honey, gold, gold foil, silver, pearl in ayurveda, siddha and unani ingredients based products.

The limit has been fixed as maximum usage levels per day for use as a health or food supplements which are based on ayurveda, siddha and unani.

The regulator will finalise these regulations after receiving comments from all stakeholders on the draft note.

FSSAI said that the benefits of speciality foods containing ingredients based on ayurveda, unani and siddha and other traditional health systems of India, should be shown by science based evidence.

Meanwhile industry body Assocham had released a knowledge paper suggesting that FSSAI should come up with safety norms for nutraceuticals and dietary supplements.

In the paper, the industry body said about 60-70 per cent supplements in the nutraceuticals market, which has potential to grow to USD 12.2 billion in the next five years, are fake and such unregistered and unapproved products should be recalled.

India accounts for 1.5 per cent of the global nutraceuticals market.

Heinz, Kellogg's, Nestle, Hormel, Unilever, Johnson & Johnson and GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals are key players in this segment.

Safety Licence a Must for Food Manufacturers

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a bid to achieve the target ‘safe food to all’, the Commissionerate of Food Safety has directed all food manufacturers to take food safety licence/registration.

The government will initiate legal action against food manufacturers - including closing down their establishments and registering criminal cases - who fail to take food safety licence/registration.

As per the Food Safety Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulation in 2011, food manufacturers should exhibit the FSSAI licence/registration number on packets.

Only those packets with the licence number should be sold by shops. Also, retailers should buy non-packed food materials only from licensed manufacturers.

Both food manufacturers and traders should exhibit the licence/registration number for the public to see. Action would be initiated against those who fail to do so, said Food Safety Commissioner T V Anupama.

In a statement issued here, the Commissionerate of Food Safety pointed out that many establishments that started functioning after implementing the food safety legislation 2011 were operating without licence.

“Such establishments should immediately apply for licence. Otherwise they will be closed down and criminal cases will be registered against them. The period extended by the Union Government for registration will be applicable only to those who possess the PFA licence for 2011-12,” the Commissioner said.

Food businesses told to get licence

The Food Safety wing under the Health Department has yet again issued a warning to all food business operators and traders that they have to secure the mandatory licence or registration under the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA).

The Commissioner of Food Safety, T. V. Anupama, said here on Saturday that as per the Packaging and Labelling Regulation 2.2.1(7) of FSSA, all food business operators should print their respective licence/registration number on the outer pack of their products. Packed foods may be sold only with the FSSA licence/registration number of the food manufacturer imprinted on the cover.

Small time traders and vendors should buy unpacked food products for retail sale from those food manufacturers with the mandatory FSSA licence or registration, she said in an official release here.

Display licence no.

All food business operators and traders should display the licence/registration number prominently in their establishment where the public can see it.

Ms. Anupama said food-related businesses, that functioned without the mandatory licence should immediately apply for licence.

DINAMALAR NEWS

Sago units in Rasipuram areas raided

Following complaints that acid was kept in godowns for supply to sago units, officials from the Tamil Nadu Food Safety Department conducted inspections at sago units in Rasipuram areas here on Friday night.

A team led by District Designated Food Safety Officer K. Tamil Selvan along with food safety inspectors inspected a farm land belonging to Periyasamy in Seerapalli. They found chemicals being manufactured and sold to others. The team also found ammonium chloride, acidic acid, hydrogen peroxide and other chemicals. The team informed Commercial Taxes Department who questioned the owner from where the products were purchased. The Namagiripettai police also conducted inquiries. The team inspected another farm land in Ariyacoundanpatti and found 120 litres of hydro choleric acid. Since the owner was not there, the police were informed.

How Maggi scare opened Govt eyes to rethink food safety

“We have made sure about the quality of the food and that proper information is given to our consumers,” said Dave.

Since food safety concern is increasing day by day, the FSSAI has increased surveillance to act against entities selling contaminated packaged food, drinking water, adulterated milk and edible oils.

Following the Maggi muddle, the authorities have started to be strict to those entities which are found to be non-compliant with the food safety norms.

In the last few months, food safety has raised serious health concerns. Commenting on the same, Sanjay Dave, Ex Advisor, FSSAI & Ex chairperson, Codex Alimentarius Commission, said, “Consumer has the right to have safe food and this will also lead to a decline in food borne or waterborne diseases in our country.”

“It is Nestle which has opened our ears and eyes and even of our faculty members, towards the food adulteration act 2006,” shared Mamta Binnai, Vice President, ICSI, as Nestle noodles was at the centre of the country's food scare in the month of May when the local regulators reported some packets of the popular noodles, sold at roadside stalls across India, contained unsafe levels of lead. The major violations noted is the presence of Lead detected in the product in excess of the maximum permissible levels of 2.5 ppm, misleading labelling information on the package reading “No added MSG” and release of a non-standardised food product in the market, i.e. “Maggi Oats Masala Noodles with Tastemaker” without risk assessment and grant of product approval.

Biswajit Das, Advocate, Supreme Court of India said, “Maggie case in the Bombay High Court is one of the burning issues which have to bring about consultative process to improve in food regulation. According to me, there is an ambiguity in it and clarity of subject is important.” 

On 5th June, an order was passed to the instant noodle maker, retailers and distributors to stop the sale of Maggi noodles from the market for food safety issues and Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said that the Bombay High Court's verdict will not affect the government's case claiming Rs 640 crore in damages from Nestle for misleading advertisement and unfair trade practices.

The safety of all such products has not been assessed as per the Product Approval procedures. Pawan Dubey, Partner, Lex Boloster Global LLP says, “We find the regulatory system is not the same as witnessed during our practice. After enquiry, there is a huge difference in the approach.” The central food safety body has taken steps to ensure conformity of standards by various products in the market after the Maggi chaos.

According to the latest ruling, Nestle again can start making Maggi noodles in India from October paving the way for the snack to go back on sale by the end of the year. Therefore, the government will take the most appropriate and necessary steps in the best interest of the consumers.

“We have made sure about the quality of the food and that proper information is given to our consumers,” said Dave.

One week imprisonment for masala manufacturer

A masala manufacturer, who used excessive colours in the product, was sentenced to one week imprisonment besides a fine of Rs. 60,000 by a local court here recently.

Rahman of Shevapet was involved in manufacturing chilly chicken powder and distributing it across the district. On November 1, 2012, officials from Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administration Department inspected the shop of Kumar in Belur, near Vazhapadi.

They found excessive use of colouring agents in the product and wrong declaration of ingredients in the package.

Samples were taken and sent to the Food Laboratory in Udayapatti. Reports confirmed excessive use of colouring agents. Based on the direction of the Food Safety Commissioner, a case was filed in the court.

Judicial Magistrate 6, K. Ambika, found both guilty of the charges and sentenced Rahman to undergo a week’s imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs. 60,000 on him for manufacturing the product. Also, Kumar was fined Rs. 60,000 for selling the product.

The judge said that failing to pay the fine would attract two months of imprisonment for them. Both were later lodged in Salem Central Prison.

Officials said that this was the first time that a trader was punished for excessive usage of colours.

They added that five such cases were filed in the court and the trials were expected to start soon.

Global meet to fix quality standards for 10 spices

Nearly 120 delegates from over 36 countries will attend the event

The Spices Board is hosting an International meet in Goa from September 14 to 18 to fix global quality standards for 10 spices.

Ashish Bahuguna, Chairman, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, will open the programme on Monday. Experts from over 36 countries and three International observation organisations will deliberate on setting up common global quality standards for 10 spices at the Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs (CCSCH) on that occasion.

The ‘Codex Standards’ for the spices would be discussed at the second session of CCSCH under Codex Alimentraius Commission (CAC), Rome, with an aim to ensure fair trade practices and better returns to farmers.

While India has submitted proposals for setting up standards for dried chilli, ginger and garlic, Egypt has submitted proposal for basil and coriander, Indonesia for nutmeg, Nigeria for cloves and ginger, Iran for saffron and Argentina for Paprika. “The initiative of India and Spices Board through CCSCH are aimed at harmonising global standards for Spices and culinary herbs,” says A. Jayathilak, co-ordinator, CCSCH.

“Codex standards ensure common quality standards for spices among spices exporting countries, thus helping to eliminate potential distortion in exports due to diverse food quality legislation by different countries,” Mr. Jayathilak adds. The electronic work group (eWG) constituted in the first session of CCSCH will also deliberate a report on the grouping of spices and standards of black ,white and green pepper as well as cumin, thyme and oregano. The meet will be attended by 120 delegates.