EU seeks clarification on India’s new hard-line labelling regulations

By RJ Whitehead,27-Nov-2013

The EU's ambassador to India, Joao Cravinho

The European Union’s ambassador to India has written to the government there in a bid to clarity its packaging regulations after around 200 tonnes of imported cheese, chocolates and other food items were blocked under the Food Safety and Standards Act.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India halted the import on labelling grounds, in that pasting information stickers on packs is now not sufficient under new regulations.

While companies often use stickers on imported products to specify certain details that are mandatory in India, such as if the items are vegetarian or non-vegetarian, the food regulator is now insisting that all nutritional information should be printed on packs before they are shipped to the country.

Non-tariff barriers?

“The food safety concerns are legitimate. We have no issues about that. We need to find a manner in which these issues can be addressed, without prejudicing trade. Otherwise, these could constitute non-tariff barriers,” Ambassador Joao Cravinho said in his note.

The FSSAI, the regulatory agency under the health ministry that supervises import of food items to ensure quality, has this month started to take a hard-line on its labelling regulations, which came into force in 2011. 

"Why should they have stickers? Stickers are temporary measures. When our [regulations] are clearly laid out, companies must print them on the packs that are to be shipped to the country," one official told Business Standard. 

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Rs 1,000 cr processed foods stuck, but importers confident of solution

Wednesday, November 20, 2013 08:00 IST 
Ashwani Maindola, New Delhi

Even as Rs 1,000 crore worth of imported processed foods remain stuck at various ports and airports in the country following the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India's (FSSAI) recent diktat on strict compliance with labeling regulations, food importers are optimistic that the issue may be resolved soon, as the authority seems to be taking steps in that direction – the first being a notification clarifying on some aspects. 

According to the Forum of Indian Food Importers (FIFI), the notification clarified a number of doubts about food import. “Earlier, there was a lack of clarity as far as regulations were concerned. Secondly, we need some time before we could implement those fully,” explained FIFI's Rakesh Banga.

Meanwhile, some food importers observed that for the last couple of months, the authority – under fire for its lackadaisical approach in implementing these regulations (particularly with respect to food imports to India) – implemented the regulations strictly.

During this period, FSSAI started insisting on proper label indicating the product type, price and nutritional value of the imported processed foods instead of stickers. However, Banga stated that it was the food importers' responsibility to get acquainted with the law and plan to avoid any glitch with respect to compliance.

Interestingly, earlier, the repeated amendments in the regulations, in the wake of fears that the country had become a dumping ground for expired foods, had left the importers confused. With the authority insisting on labels instead of stickers, consignments of foods that were already imported and lying at ports and airports suffered delay (despite the fact that there was clarity.)

The result was several items, including chocolates and cookies, were absent from the market this festive season. According to market analysts, about 50 per cent of India's packaged food imports take place during the festive season.

Meanwhile, the pending issues as far as food imports are concerned include 100 per cent sampling of containers coming into the country, slower product approvals, and over 11,000 applications awaiting the FSSAI nod.

However, Amit Lohani, convenor, FIFI, was optimistic that the organisation had made a representation before the authority and the issues were being resolved

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Vasudev Adiga's to fund a million meals for kids to back Akshaya Patra

Friday, November 15, 2013 08:00 IST 
Our Bureau, Bengaluru

Vasudev Adiga’s, a popular chain of restaurants in Karnataka, has committed to raise funds by sponsoring a million meals in collaboration with its customers, partners and employees to support the Akshaya Patra Foundation, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) which serves mid-day meals to government schoolchildren in India.

This campaign, titled +1, was launched on Children’s Day (November 14, 2013) and will roll out across 20 of the chain's outlets in Bengaluru and the rest of Karnataka. The price of every item on Vasudev Adiga’s menu would be increased by Re 1, and the proceeds would be donated to the Foundation.

“Our +1 campaign aims to bring together our customers, partners and employees in achieving our goal of helping the Akshaya Patra Foundation to provide a million meals. We hope to demonstrate the collective power to do good by giving just an extra rupee. We hope this campaign would inspire our customers, while helping nourish the dreams of many children across the country”, said Jacob Kurian, managing director, Vasudev Adiga’s.

In a public-private partnership with the Indian government, the Foundation serves the largest number of hot, freshly-cooked school meals in the country each school working day. Reaching out to around 1.3 million children in 19 locations across nine states of India, Akshaya Patra is one of the world’s largest NGO-run school meal programmes.

According to Shridhar Venkat, executive director, the Akshaya Patra Foundation said, “This partnership would support many deserving children of our country in their endeavors to realize their dreams and true potential. We are extremely happy to have collaborated with Vasudev Adiga’s under their +1 campaign, which hopes to reach out to many such children, helping us take a step closer to ensuring that no child in India is deprived of education because of hunger.”

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July 1, 2014 new deadline for FSSAI's logos, food registration numbers

Thursday, November 14, 2013 08:00 IST 
Abhitash Singh, Mumbai

 As the December 7, 2013 deadline for complying with the norms to bear the logo and registration or license numbers – made mandatory by the Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) – is approaching, the country's apex food regulator has extended the deadline to comply with the provisions for seven months. July 1, 2014 is the new deadline to become compliant with the provisions.

According to Mahesh Zagade, food commissioner, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Maharashtra, the state would be the first in India to comply with the provisions before the set deadline. He said, “FSSAI has set very strict guidelines for food manufacturers. The notifications, which were issued in June 2013, state that every food business operator (FBO) in the country must obtain a 14-digit registration or licence number,which must be printed on food packages.”

“The move by the food regulator would not only help consumers, but also food safety officers (FSOs) to know whether the product has undergone quality checks and to bring down the instances of sub-standard products, reduce the number of bogus manufacturers and enhance accountability for complying with the provisions. FBOs from all over Maharashtra should complete their registration and licensing and printing their registration and license numbers on food packages,” Zagade added.

Zagade added, “Our FSOs are always ready to educate the FBOs about the importance of registration and licensing. They have also taken the initiative to call at least 200 FBOs to the FDA office or go to their premises to train them about the importance of having registrations and licenses and complying with the new guidelines to provide quality foods to the consumers. Since Maharashtra is leading in registration and licensing, FBOs of the state will also be the first to comply with the new deadline.”

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Lactalis "nears deal for dairy firm Tirumala"

By Raghavendra Verma | 15 November 2013

Lactalis is said to be close to securing a deal to buy a majority stake in Indian dairy business Tirumala Milk Products.

The French dairy giant is near to an agreement to buy 70% of Tirumala, India's Economic Times has reported.

Tirumala is controlled by family members but three years ago secured investment from private-equity group Carlyle, which now has a 20% stake. Earlier this month, Tirumala said its owners were in talks with Lactalis' domestic rival Danone. 

Tirumala is one of the largest dairy processors in southern India. The Hyderabad-based company processes and markets products including milk, butter, paneer (Indian cheese) and ice cream. It turned over INR14.2bn (US$223m) in 2012-13, 21% higher than in the previous year.

Satish Kulkarni, chairman of the Indian Dairy Association's south zone in Bangalore, told just-food Lactalis' purported strategy to invest in Tirumala was sound.

Kulkarni noted the Indian dairy sector was a major growth area, with milk production increasing annually by about 4%, while internationally the growth rate is 1.2% to 1.3%. Furthermore, he said India also produces milk at a competitive price and is therefore a potential stable source of raw material for the multinationals. "These companies can also use it as a base for exporting produce to other countries."

Lactalis could not be reached for comment at the time of writing.

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FSSAI labeling issue hits packaged food imports hard

Sounak Mitra & Viveat Susan Pinto  |  New Delhi/ Mumbai  

November 5, 2013

Categories across the board from chocolate to cheese, olive oil to biscuits have been impacted as a result of stand off between importers, food safety regulator

It is not just your favourite imported chocolate that went missing from shop shelves this festive season. Crispies such as Pringles, gourmet cheese, olive oil, biscuits, noodles, pasta, jams, honey, oats, sauces... you name it... were hardly to be found this Diwali as the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), the country's apex regulator, came down heavily on importers overlabeling issues.

Government sources indicate that packaged foods worth over Rs 750-1,000 crore were stuck at various ports and airports across the country as the food safety regulator insisted that importers desist from using stickers on food products to indicate crucial details such as the product type, price and nutritional value. 

What's worse? The stand-off, on for the last three months, shows no signs of abating, as FSSAI refuses to budge from its position. “FSSAI’s move is in line with the law, and all companies – be it Indian or foreign – should comply with it. Stickers are temporary measures. When our norms are clearly laid out, companies must print them on the packs that are to be shipped to India,” an FSSAI official when contacted said. He declined to be quoted given the sensitivity of the matter.

But importers, irked by the lacklustre Diwali sales, say that if the issue is not sorted out soon enough could impact business during Christmas and New Year too. Almost 50-55% of packaged food imports in India happen during the festive season, since it is utilised mainly for gifting purposes besides consumption.  

Amit Lohani, convenor, Forum of Indian Food Importers, a body of food importers in the country, says FIFI has already made numerous representations to FSSAI in a bid to resolve the issue. "On October 31, FSSAI came out with a notification agreeing to one of our demands, which is to allow the food safety logo on a sticker. This is with immediate effect," Lohani, who imports confectionary, snacks and coffee among other products, said. 

Lohani points to other issues worrying importers. "Such as 100% sampling of containers coming into the country," he says. "Earlier sampling was to the extent of 5-10% not more. This was to give an idea of what the consignment was made up of. With 100% sampling of each and every container now, this is obviously leading to a huge delay. Containers are hardly getting cleared," says Lohani.

Slower product approvals are another issue bogging importers for a while now. Lohani says there are almost 11,000 applications pending approval from the FSSAI, with the body clearing just about 8-10 applications a day. "At this rate, the regulator will take about two to three years to clear the backlog," he says.

However, there are voices that speak in favour of the food safety regulator's recent moves. Says Saloni Nangia, president, Technopak Advisors; "The FSSAI's move to enforce labeling standards is a step in the right direction. India for long has been a dumping ground for products that are well past their sell-by-date. At least now there will be some accountability. Product quality is compromised with the use of stickers. FSSAI is attempting to stop that."

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Hearing of FSSAI chairman's appointment PIL scheduled for March 5, '14

Saturday, November 09, 2013 08:00 IST 
Ashwani Maindola, New Delhi

The upcoming hearing of the public interest litigation (PIL) challenging the recruitment and appointment of the chairperson of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is 

scheduled to take place on March 5, 2014.

It was filed in the Delhi High Court by Lok Jagriti, a Ghaziabad-based non-governmental organisation (NGO) on May 29, 2013. The PIL stated that K Chandramouli, FSSAI's incumbent chief, did not fulfill the eligibility criteria for the post as desired under Section 5 of the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, 2006.

During the first hearing on August 14, 2013, the court had asked for a reply from the respondents. This was filed on October 30, 2013. “The respondents denied all the charges made in the PIL and said that the appointment was done as per the rules and norms prescribed in the Act,” said Govindjee, the petitioner's counsel.

He said, “The respondents added that the FSS Act is in a nascent stage, and they are taking help from Codex regulations in formulating the regulations in India, which was countered by the petitioner by saying that there were some norms in Codex, which cannot be applied in India.”

The NGO also mentioned that while searching for the chairperson of the apex food authority, many people with scientific background were available but ignored, and only a person with administrative background was chosen.

It also stated that Chandramouli also acted as CEO of the authority, which is a case of conflict of interest as a person cannot hold two positions simultaneously in the authority under the rules prescribed in FSS Act, and it is only now the regular CEO was appointed.

The petitioner also informed that the next date of hearing was too far, and they would move an application for the early hearing of the case.

It is pertinent to mention here that under Section 5 (3) of FSS Act, the chairperson would be appointed by the central government from amongst the persons of eminence in the field of food science or from amongst the persons from the administration who have been associated with the subject, and are either holding or have held a position not below the rank of secretary to the government of India

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Happy Diwali

FOODKonnect wishes everybody a very 

Happy Diwali and a prosperous year ahead.