The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (“FSSAI”), in a direction dated 28th June, 2019, has declared that the Scientific panel agreed to modify the labelling requirements for Blended Edible Vegetable Oils after considering various representations from Stakeholders. The Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Amendment Regulations, 2019 (“Amendment Regulations”) which have been issued with respect to labelling requirements for Blended Edible Vegetable Oils have been decided to be operationalised, effective immediately.
Until the final notification of the amendment regulations are released, FSSAI has decided to operationalise the amendment regulations with immediate effect after keeping in mind the need for fair practises in food business operation. The Food Business Operators have been requested to comply with the amendment regulations until it is enforced i.e., 6 months from the date of the direction (28th December 2019), or after final notification in the Gazette of India, whichever is later. Meanwhile, the recommendations of the Scientific Panel are being included in the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulations, 2011 as an amendment for final notification.
FSSAI makes the following regulations operational with immediate effect:
- For the purpose of operationalization, the following labelling requirements of Blended Edible Vegetable Oils under Clause 11 of Regulation 2.4.2 of the Principal Regulations have been presented:
- a. every package, containing an admixture of edible oils, the label declaration must be in bold capital letter immediately below its brand name / trade name on the front of pack;
“BLENDED EDIBLE VEGETABLE OIL”
| (Name and nature* of edible vegetable oil) ……………………..% by weight
(Name and nature* of edible vegetable oil)………………………% by weight |
(*i.e. in raw or refined form)
b. For pack size less than one litre, the font size of the label declaration “Blended Edible Vegetable Oil” must not be less than 3 mm with the length of declaration statement as 35 mm minimum and for label declaration “Name and Nature of edible vegetable oil…..% by weight”, font size shall not be less than 2 mm.
c.
d. For pack size one litre to below 5 litre, the font size of the label declaration “BLENDED EDIBLE VEGETABLE OIL” must not be less than 4 mm with the length of declaration statement as 45 mm minimum and for label declaration “Name and Nature of edible vegetable oil…..% by weight” font size must not be less than 2.5 mm.
e. For pack size five litre and above, the font size of the label declaration “BLENDED EDIBLE VEGETABLE OIL” must not be less than 10 mm and for label declaration “Name and Nature of edible vegetable oil…..% by weight” font size must not be less than 3 mm.
f. There must also be the following declaration in bold capital letters along with the name of product on front of pack,-
| NOT TO BE SOLD LOOSE |
Source: Food Safety and Standards Authority of India
