FSSAI's Ninth meet discusses standards for olive oil, caffeinated beverages

Thursday, June 21, 2012 08:00 IST 
Archana Aroor, Mumbai


With S N Mohanty taking over as the CEO at Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), the Authority conducted its Ninth Authority Meeting recently. An official from FSSAI confirmed this to FnB News in a chat over telephone.

Conducted in the presence of chairperson K Chandramouli, the meeting discussed large number of issues with stakeholders. These included draft standards for olive oil, draft standards for caffeinated beverages, use of nutritional ingredients in various food items, amendment to the food safety & standards (contaminant, toxins and residues) regulations, fixing of antioxidant limit in honey and draft import regulations.

To begin with, the meeting took note of CEO's report on activities of FSSAI during the year 2011-12. Also, the challenges before the Authority during the year 2012-13 were spelt out.

Arun K Panda, joint secretary, ministry of health and family welfare, informed that a draft scheme would be formulated that would include an MoU (memorandum of understanding) with states so that they could strengthen their enforcement machinery, laboratories, information, education and communication.

The Authority, which discussed standards on olive oil, agreed upon most points. Regarding caffeinated beverages, Mona Malhotra, one of the members suggested, "and sportsperson" which was mentioned in the Clause 4(b) of the draft standards could be deleted and warning the consumer "not recommended for children, pregnant or lactating women, persons sensitive to caffeine" should be displayed in the principle display panel in bold with a bigger font.


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FSSA, 2006: FAFAI finds Aug 5 deadline too short for proper implementation

Thursday, June 21, 2012 08:00 IST 
Akshay Kalbag, Mumbai

 Although the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) set an August 5, 2012, deadline for getting the existing licences converted, it might not be long enough to convincingly answer all the petty food vendors' objections to the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and certain regulations of the same Act, which came into effect last year.

This was the opinion of Ravi Mehra, chairman, flavours sub-committee, Fragrances and Flavours Association of India (FAFAI), who spoke to FnB News over telephone.

"Retail associations in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, have filed a number of petitions in the Madras High Court, and got all of them stayed. That is because the 2011 rules are not in consonance with the Act, and anything that is outside the purview of the Act is invalid," Mehra said, adding that different segments of the industry had their own scientific committees and the panels were not represented enough by the small, unorganised food business operators (FBOs), the section of the industry it was most likely to affect.

"There is no scientific basis for the implementation of the Act, its rules and regulations. Moreover, we are afraid of implementing it - that is where the problem lies. The regulatory approach is wrong, and from the stakeholders' point of view, it would not be incorrect to say that it isn't awareness or education, but sensitisation which is an absolute must. The law is draconian, and could promote more corruption than there is now," he said. 


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Proposed packaging rules deferred to November 1; Rule 5 of LM Act omitted

Saturday, June 09, 2012 08:00 IST 
Akshay Kalbag, Mumbai

The Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), one of the strongest lobbyists for the extension of the deadline for the implementation of the rules stipulating pack sizes and weights for consumer goods, has successfully convinced the K V Thomas-led ministry of consumer affairs, food and public distribution to ease the proposed norms.

The Third Amendment to the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2012, under the Legal Metrology Act, 2011, was unveiled on October 24, 2011, and was scheduled to come into force from July 1, 2012. But it has been deferred to November 1 this year. A FICCI official, on strict condition of anonymity, informed FnB News about the development in a telephonic conversation and said the proviso to Rule 5 of the Act would be omitted.

"Non-standard packs will, however, be converted to standard packs. The latest amendment specifies a set of grammages. Some of these existed in the previous amendment, while some are recent additions to the list. These vary from commodity to commodity, but now only the prescribed weights will be applicable," she said.

Rule 5 of the Act states, "Specific commodities are to be packed and sold in the recommended standard packages. The commodities specified in the Second Schedule shall be packed for sale, distribution or delivery in such standard quantities as are specified in that Schedule; provided that if a commodity specified in the Second Schedule is packed in a size other than that prescribed in that Schedule, a declaration that 'Not a standard pack size under the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011' or 'Non-standard size under the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011' shall be made prominently on the label of such package."

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India almost tripled organic exports last year, says government agency

29-May-2012

India's organic exports almost tripled in value for the fiscal year 2011-12 from the previous year, a government agency detailed.

The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), which is responsible for promoting food exports, said that India exported almost 70,000 metric tonnes (mt) of organic products, valued at almost US$130m in 2010-11. This figure was up to 115,000 mt worth over US$360m for 2011-12.According to APEDA, more financial assistance (US$38m) from the body had been provided in 2011-12 to India's organic food sector than previous years.APEDA has forecast that sector exports will double again in the current fiscal

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India alcohol limits drafted

By Ankush Chibber , 28-May-2012

India’s top food regulator has drafted regulations for alcohol content in beer, wine and spirits sold in the country, a move that has ruffled feathers in the local liquor manufacturing industry.

New alcohol standards will create ripples through the liquor industry, say manufacturersThe Food Standards and Safety Authority of India (FSSAI) has finalised its draft standards for all categories of alcoholic beverages including wine, beer, whisky, rum, gin and vodka.  The standards will set the maximum permissible limits of alcohol in these drinks and thus, command safety standards, the body said.The regulations are set to be implemented in July, following a final meeting at the end of the month.“These standards have already been approved by the FSSAI scientific committee and after final approvals, these will be put in the public domain and objections will be invited,” an FSSAI official said, without revealing the new limits.

The FSSAI had established an expert group in February this year to draw up benchmarks for alcoholic beverages.

Current licence standards in India allow 45.5% maximum content in distilled spirits such as whisky, rum, and gin, 12% for wine, and 8% for beer products while there are no limits for locally made beverages.

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