In a Gazette Notification dated 16th September, 2020 the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (“FSSAI”) has rolled out the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Seventh Amendment Regulations, 2020 (“New Regulations”), to further amend the Food safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011.
The New Regulations have gained effect since 16th September, 2020 (the date of their publication in the Official Gazette). Food Business Operators have been directed to ensure compliance with the provisions of the New Regulations by 1st July, 2021.
The amendments made are as follows –
• In Regulation 3.3 (“Other substances for use in food products”), sub-regulation 3.3.1 (“Flavouring agents and related substances”) under clause 4 “Restriction on use of flavouring agents” the following prohibited flavouring agent is being added –
(xii) 4,5 epoxydec-2(trans)-enal
• In Appendix A, under the heading “IV.USE OF FOOD ADDITIVES IN FOOD PRODUCTS”
a. In Table 1 relating to Dairy products and analogues, excluding products of category 2.0 in Food Category System 1.6.2 relating to Ripened cheese, Food Additive (Column 3) Pimaricin (Natamicin) is getting omitted.
b. In Table 1 relating to Dairy products and analogues, excluding products of category 2.0 in Food Category System 1.6.4.1 relating to Plain processed cheese/ processed cheese, processed cheese spreads, Food Additive (Column 3) Phospates, Under Note (Column 6) “33” is being substituted in place of “Total salt content should not exceed 9,000 mg/kg calculated as phosphoh orus/ cabonates/ citrate/ chloride”.
c. In Table 2 relating to Fats and oils and fat emulsions, in Food Category System 2.1.2
i. Food Category Name “Vegetable oils and fats” is being changed to “Vegetable oils, fats and bakery shortenings”.
ii. In Column 4 of the Food Additive “Lecithin” entry “322 (i), 322 (ii)” is being changed from existing entry “322 (i)”.
iii. Food Additive name “Monoglyceride citrate” is being changed to “Citric and fatty acid esters of glycerol”.
iv. In Column 4 of the Food Additive “Sodium Citrate” entry “331 (i)” is being changed from existing entry “331 (iii)”.
v. In Column 3 after the food additive “THIODIPROPIONATES”, the following is being inserted –
Lactic and fatty acid esters of glycerol | 472b | 10,000 mg/kg | 408 |
Mono and diglycerides of fatty acids | 471 | GMP | 408 |
Polyglycerol esters of fatty acid | 475 | 5,000 mg/kg | 408 |
d. In Table 2, in Food Category System 2.2.2 “Fat spreads, dairy fat spreads and blended spreads (margarine, bakery shortenings and fat spreads)” is getting substituted to “Fat spreads, dairy fat spreads and blended spreads (margarine and fat spreads)”, and the following is getting amended –
i. In Column 3 for the food additive “SORBATES”, recommended maximum level is now “1,000 mg/kg”;
ii. In Column 3 for the food additive “ETHYLENE DIAMINE TETRA ACETATES (EDTA)”, recommended maximum level is now “50 mg/kg”.
e. In Table 5 relating to Confectionary, for food category “Chewing Gum”, against the the Food Additive “Microcrystalline wax”, Maximum level and note is being added as follows –
20,000 mg/kg | 3 |
f. In Table 6 relating to “Cereals and cereal products” in Food Category System 6.2.1 and 6.2.2 (Flours and starches), the Food Additive “Potassium iodate” and the entries are getting omitted.
g. In Table 7 relating to “Bakery Products” in Food Category System 7.2.1 (Cakes, cookies, biscuit, cracker and pies), the Food Additive “Potassium iodate” and the entries are getting omitted.
h. In Table 12 relating to “Salts, spices, soups, salads and protein products” in Food Category System 12.2.2 (Seasonings and condiments), against the food additive “PHOSPHATES”, under the “Note” column entry “26” is getting changed to “226”.
• In the Regulations, in the Notes to the Food Additives mentioned in the Table 1 to 15, after the Note No. 340, the following will be inserted –
408 | Only for bakery shortening |
Source : Food Safety and Standards Authority of India