The FSSAI has issued a draft of regulations for mandatory fortification of edible oil and packaged milk. Called Draft Notification on Food Safety and Standards (Fortification of Foods) Regulations, 2020, for making fortification of edible oil and milk mandatory in India, the FSSAI has sought comments from the stakeholders by February 14, 2021.
Under the proposed regulations, the apex food regulator intends to include provisions relating to ‘Compliance with Standards on Micronutrient Content’ under the said regulation by adding two Sub- Regulations, which says, “The packaged refined edible vegetable oil weighing not more than 15 kilogram shall be fortified with Vitamin A and Vitamin D and shall comply with the level specified in Clause (2) of Schedule –I” and “The packaged toned, double toned, skimmed milk or standardised milk shall be fortified with Vitamin A and Vitamin D and shall comply with the level specified in Clause (3) of Schedule –I”.
It is pertinent to mention that the FSSAI was considering making fortification of edible oil and milk mandatory for some time.
The fortification regulations were already notified providing a minimum and maximum range for fortification of staples like wheat flour (atta), maida, rice, salt, vegetable oil and milk, which was voluntary.
The dosage of the micronutrients was adjusted to provide 30 to 50 per cent of the daily requirements while in milk and oil, the unit of dosage was changed to microgram Retinol Equivalent for Vitamin A and microgram for Vitamin D from IU.