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FSSAI issues orders to operationalise regulations on nutraceuticals
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Saturday, 26 November, 2016, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Nandita Vijay, Bengaluru
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fiogf49gjkf0d The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has now issued orders to operationalise the regulations on the standards of health supplements, nutraceuticals, foods for special dietary care, foods for medicinal purpose, functional foods and novel foods.
The government stated that since the gazette publication of the final regulations would take some more time (because they are being translated into Hindi), FSSAI has now made these norms as final with immediate effect from November 24, 2016.
Considering the regulations are final, it would facilitate the state food authorities and their teams of inspectors to supervise the food businesses on high priority.
In order to speed up the implementation of the much-awaited regulations, the Authority is keen to ensure that the notification comes into force with immediate effect.
The move will regulate the category of nutraceuticals among others. The guidelines mandate the approval of dietary supplements, functional foods and special dietary products that are manufactured and marketed throughout the country.
FSSAI called on all state food departments and food inspectors to take up the task of ensuring the implementation of the regulation. It pointed out that these regulations provide clear-cut guidance on categories of foods, like, for instance, on the permissible ingredients that can be used.
The articles of food sold in the capsule format, hard/soft or vegetarian will need to comply with the general monograph and quality requirements specified for them in the India Pharmacopeia.
“The regulations mark the beginning of putting science-based regulations that will promote innovation in food science. It will help tackle malnutrition, nutrient deficiency and reduce the burden of disease helping consumers get better quality through food as medicine, “ said D B A Narayana, leading food scientist who panelled the committees formed by the ministry of health and family welfare.
He added, “India, through this regulation, has got a leading edge to move from illness-centric to wellness-centric healthcare. The health ministry, which formed the FSSAI, and scientists in related fields have yet again shown their commitment to health for all through food.”
“I am happy to be a small part of the contributors to this regulatory development under the leadership of V Prakash, scientist emeritus and former director, Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), Mysuru,” Narayana stated.
The food business operators (FBOs) will now need to use the colours and additives permitted in Schedule VF. FBOs may use natural flavours, nature-identical flavours or synthetic flavours in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.31 of the Food Products and Food Additives Regulations, 2011.
The quantity of nutrients added to the articles of food shall not exceed the recommended daily allowance (RDA) as specified by the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR). In case such standards are not specified, those laid down by the international food standards body, Codex, will apply.
The regulations have indicated that FBOs will need to intimate the purity criteria adopted for the ingredients to FSSAI, including any changes adopted in the contents.
The tolerance limit for the articles of food covered in these regulations during analysis of samples of finished products should not be more than 10 per cent of the declared value of the nutrients or nutritional ingredients on the labels, as per the guidelines.
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