FSSAI standardises list of 11,000 food additives

The move will allow companies manufacturing food products to use additives allowed on the list without approval and would significantly ease approvals.

In a new development, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has finalized a new list of 11,000 permissible food additives. 

This will allow companies manufacturing food products to use additives allowed on the list without approval and would significantly ease approvals. 

Earlier, companies needed to obtain product-wise approval for launching food products. 

Speaking to CNBC-TV18, FSSAI CEO Pawan Kumar Agarwal said the food regulator has removed two additives from the list, one of which is potassium bromate, which was in the news recently for its supposed carcinogenic properties. 

On the other carcinogen of the two named in bread fiasco, FSSAI's scientific panel is still studying the impact of potassium iodate, Agarwal said. 

Below is the transcript of Pawan Kumar Agarwal's with CNBC-TV18's Shereen Bhan 

Q: Help us understand what the FSSAI has operationalised today? I know that there are 11000 additives on your list of additives but potassium bromate I believe has now been done away with. It has been banned by the food regulator, is that right? 

A: Today we have operationalised the final list of additives, around 11000. This work was going on for the past three years by the FSSAI scientific panel and scientific committee and was approved by the authority in January this year. Now after it has been approved by the ministry of health and family welfare this would be finally notified after it is translated into Hindi. However in view of the public interest involved we are operationalised the final list of 11000 additive provisions in the food in various food categories. 

Q: The last chat that you and I had, you said that companies may get some transition time to do away with the use of potassium bromate but now that it stands banned from today, will there be any transition time or starting today companies will not be allowed to use potassium bromate? 

A: This final list removes potassium bromate which is normally used in bread and bakery products and also another additive which is cyclamate normally used in gems, jelly and dairy based products, these two additives cannot be used in any food item in the country from now on. 

Q: Is there a possibility that potassium iodate may also be banned because that was something that you said your committee was studying. Does potassium iodate stay or will this also be banned? 

A: Very difficult to say anything on this at this stage. Scientific panel and the scientific committee will have to apply its mind based on evidence that may be available to them including the evidence that the reports from the studies from the studies from the centre for science and environment has provided. 

Q: Do you think most companies will be able to make the transition immediately? You have obviously held stake holder consultations. Is industry prepared to drop potassium bromate? 

A: When we had consultations primarily with the bread manufacturers, we were told that this transition can be done almost immediately. Most of the companies had voluntarily agreed not to use potassium bromate with immediate effect. I do believe that many companies or many of these businesses are not using potassium bromate at all. Therefore there is no reason for giving them any transition time.

FSSAI bans use of potassium bromate as food additive

CSE had urged FSSAI to ban the use of potassium bromate and potassium iodate with immediate effect.

New Delhi: The government on Monday banned use of potassium bromate as a food additive following a CSE study that found its presence in bread as causing cancer.

The Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), however, has referred potassium iodate -- also claimed to be carcinogenic used as a food additive -- to a scientific panel.

"FSSAI has banned potassium bromate. A notification has been issued in this regard. As far as potassium iodate is concerned, it has been referred to a scientific panel," FSSAI CEO Pawan Kumar Agarwal told PTI.

Last month, the regulator had recommended to the Health Ministry removal of potassium bromate from the list of permissible food additives after a study by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE).

The CSE study had found that 84 per cent of 38 commonly available brands of pre-packaged breads, including pav and buns, tested positive for potassium bromate and potassium iodate. These two food additives are banned in many countries and listed as "hazardous" for public health.

According to CSE, potassium bromate typically increases dough strength, leads to higher rising and uniform finish to baked products while potassium iodate is a flour treatment agent.

CSE had also urged FSSAI to ban the use of potassium bromate and potassium iodate with immediate effect and prevent their routine exposure to Indian population.

After the CSE study, a bread manufacturers' body had said they will stop using controversial potassium bromate and potassium iodate as additives.

The All India Bread Manufacturers Association, which represents over 90 organised bread manufacturers such as Harvest Gold and Britannia, had asked FSSAI to verify the findings of the CSE report that claimed most of the breads sold in the national capital contained cancer-causing chemicals.

Maharashtra police moves SC against Bombay HC order on gutkha

Bombay High Court order had held that raids and actions taken by police against people possessing gutkha were illegal.

The Maharashtra Police has moved the Supreme Court against Bombay High Court's order, which had held that raids and actions taken by the police against people possessing and storing gutkha were illegal.

Filing a Special Leave Petition (SLP), the Maharashtra Police said that although the food safety commissioner is empowered to issue notification under the Food Safety and Security Act and effective implementation of law against the violators, police have the power to take action against them under IPC.

In March, the Aurangabad bench of Bombay High Court had quashed the FIRs registered against several gutkha manufacturers, sellers and others indulged in this business saying police actions were illegal and the food safety officers were not prohibited from proceedings against the alleged offenders under provisions of Food and Safety Standard (FSS) Act.

Contending that the high court has erred in quashing the FIRs by applying the provisions of section 482 of the Criminal Procedure Code, the plea said court should have gone slow while passing the order.

"The high court should have made the respondents (accused) to face trial. Had the respondents been proved the not guilty, the respondents would have been acquitted by the competent court," the plea stated.

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