The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (“FSSAI”) has, in a notification dated 28th May, 2018, issued the draft Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) First Amendment Regulations, 2018 (“Draft Amendment Regulations”) to further amend the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulations, 2011 (“Principal Regulations”).
The FSSAI has invited objections and suggestions, in respect of the Draft Amendment Regulations from stakeholders by 28th June, 2018. The objections and suggestions must be sent as per the attached format, addressed to:
- The Chief Executive Officer, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, FDA Bhawan, Kotla Road, New Delhi-110002; or
- regulation@fssai.gov.in via email
Amendments proposed by the Draft Amendment Regulations:
- The Draft Amendment Regulations propose to amend Regulation 2.3.3 of the Principal Regulations as follows:
| Principal Regulations | Draft Amendment Regulations | Impact |
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Regulation 2.3.3
The height of numeral in the declaration: …
Provided further that in case of label declarations required under 2.4 except in case declaration specifying instructions for use or preparation of the product, the size of letters shall not be less than 3mm. |
Regulation 2.3.3
The height of numeral in the declaration: …
Provided further that in case of label declarations required under sub-regulations 2.4.2 and 2.4.4 except in case of declaration specifying instructions for use or preparation of the product, the size of numeral and letters shall not be less than 3mm
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Presently, the minimum font size limitation under the second proviso to Regulation 2.3.3 is applicable to all labelling under Regulation 2.4 dealing with the ‘Specific Requirements/ Restrictions on manner of labelling’, which includes labelling of different products like infant milk substitute and infant food, edible oils and fats, permitted food colours, irradiated food etc.
The Draft Amendment Regulations propose to make the limitation of font size, under the second proviso to Regulation 2.3.3, applicable to only the labelling of edible oils and fats (sub-regulation 2.4.2) and irradiated foods (sub-regulation 2.4.4).
Moreover, the amendment proposes that the minimum font size limitation of 3 mm in the labels under sub-regulations 2.4.2 and 2.4.4, shall also be applicable to numerals, along with the letters.
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- The Draft Amendment Regulations propose to amend the labelling requirements for edible oils under Clause 11 of Regulation 2.4.2 of the Principal Regulations.
It also proposes the following:
- in every package, containing an admixture of edible oils, the label declaration has to be placed immediately below its brand name
- the font size of the label declaration “Blended Edible Vegetable Oil” shall not be less than 5 mm.
However, in case the net quantity of the edible oils contained in the packages is more than 1 litre, the font size of the label declaration shall not be less than 10 mm.
Please refer to the hyperlinked source below for further details.
Source: Food Safety and Standards Authority of India
