Public comments invited on the draft Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Amendment Regulations, 2021 by 25th February, 2022

The Food Safety And Standards Authority Of India has issued the draft Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Amendment Regulations, 2021 with a view to amend the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011.

Objections or suggestions, if any, may be addressed to the Chief Executive Officer of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, FDA Bhawan, Kotla Road, New Delhi- 110002 or sent by e-mail at regulation@fssai.gov.in by 25th February, 2022.

Key amendments:

1. Packaged drinking water shall be clear without any sediments, suspended particles and extraneous matter.

Note: where water for use in a food product is specified to be conforming to the standards of Packaged Drinking Water, in such cases the minimum limit specified for calcium and magnesium shall not apply

2. “Infant Milk Substitute, Infant Formula, Food for special medical purpose intended for infants” shall be substituted for the words “Infant Milk Food, Infant Formula, Infant Milk Substitute” in Table 2 of related to Microbiological Standards for Milk and Milk Products;

3. For the words ‘Cereal Based Complimentary food’, the words “Cereal Based Complimentary food, Food for infants based on traditional food ingredients” shall be substituted;

4. Desiccated Coconut’s definition is proposed to be changed to

(i) Desiccated Coconut means the product:

1. Prepared by peeling, milling, grating and drying the sound white kernel obtained from the whole nut of coconut (CocosnuciferaL.), having reached appropriate development for processing, without oil extraction.
2. processed in an appropriate manner, undergoing operations such as de-husking, hatcheting, paring, washing, comminuting, drying and sifting;
3. described in points (a) and (b) from which oil has been partially extracted by appropriate physical means.

(ii) The product may be presented in form of powder, flakes, chips and shreds. It shall be white to light creamy white in colour. It shall be free from foreign matter, living insects, mould, dead insects, insect fragments and rodent contamination. The product shall have pleasant taste and flavour, free from rancidity and evidence of fermentation.

(iii) The product covered by this Standard shall be labelled in accordance with the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulation, 2020. In addition to that the product having oil content 35-60% shall be labelled as “Reduced Fat Desiccated Coconut’

5. Amendments are also proposed in relation to the regulation related to “Moringa oil”

A Copy of the Notification is linked below for ease of reference.

Source: Food Safety And Standards Authority Of India