Brief Interpretation of the Announcement from FSSAI:
The FSSAI intends to amend the FSS (Food Product Standards and Food Additives) Regulation 2011, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued a draft for amending the regulations to introduce the standards related to caffeinated beverage and to prescribe the limit of blue tint in plastic containers used for packaging mineral water 09.05.2013 and the objections or suggestions were invited from the stakeholders by 07.06.2013.
So far no standards have been prescribed for caffeinated beverage under the FSS (Food Product Standards and Food Additives) Regulations 2011.The draft proposes to introduce the standards for caffeinated beverages under the head” Water based non-alcoholic flavoured drinks”. The minimum limit of caffeine of 145 mg per liter and maximum limit of caffeine of 320 mg per liter in the caffeinated beverage has been proposed in the draft besides the permissible quantities of other additives like taurine, riboflavin etc. In the draft the limit of blue tint has been proposed to an extent of 33% in the plastic containers of the packaging of five liter or above of packaged drinking water. Whereas earlier as per the regulations the drinking water both packaged and mineral water is required to be packed in clean, hygienic, colorless, transparent containers made of poly ethylene and poly ethyle terephthalate etc so earlier no blue tint in plastic container used for packing of drinking water both packaged and mineral water was allowed. For full information please download and read http://www.fssai.gov.in/Portals/0/Pdf/gazetteenglish(08-05-2013).pdf
Implications of Draft:
- The standards for Caffeinated beverages are proposed to be fixed. Once the standards are notified,the Caffeinated beverage will be treated as standard product and it will not be treated as proprietary food. Therefore the need of product approval, if any, from the FSSAI is not required for the manufacture of Caffeinated beverage.
- After notification regarding the limit of blue tint in plastic containers used for packaging water, the packaging of both drinking and mineral water of five liter or more can be packed in the plastic containrs having the blue tint to an extent of 33%.
Background of Draft:
- The Standards for various food articles have been prescribed under the FSS (Food Product Standards and Food Additives) Regulation 2011.The standards for beverages like tea, coffee, alcoholic beverage and beverages non-alcoholic carbonated water have been prescribed under regulation number 2.10 of ¬¬ the said regulation but no standards have been prescribed for Caffeinated beverages under the said regulations. Now the standards have been proposed for Caffeinated beverages and also to induct under the said regulations.
- Under regulations 2.1.2(5) of the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling)Regulations2011, packaging requirements for drinking water (both packaging and mineral water) has been prescribed. According to this regulation the drinking water shall be packed in colorless and transparent bottles/containers made of plastic material or glass conforming to specified standards. So it could not be packed in blue tint plastic containers.
Background of FSS Act:
- Section 92 of FSS Act empowers the food authority to make regulations regarding notifying the standards in relation to article of food meant for human consumption The Standards for various food articles have been prescribed under the FSS (Food Product Standards and Food Additives) Regulation 2011. The standards for beverages like tea, coffee, alcoholic beverage and beverages non-alcoholic carbonated water have been prescribed under regulation 2.10 of ¬¬ the said regulation but no standards have been prescribed for Caffeinated beverages under the said regulations. Now the standards have been proposed for Caffeinated beverages and also to induct under the said regulations.
- Under regulations 2.1.2(5 )of the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulations 2011,packaging requirements for drinking water both packaging and mineral water has been prescribed. According to this regulation the drinking water shall be packed in colorless and transparent bottles/containers made of plastic material or glass conforming to specified standards. So it could not be packed in blue tint plastic containers.The standards for mineral water has been prescribed under regulation number 2..10.7 of food safety and standards (Food Product Standards and Food Additives) Regulation 2011.Both the regulations did not allow the use of blue tint in the packaging material used for packing drinking water. After notification regarding the limit of blue tint in plastic containers used for packaging water, the packaging of both drinking and mineral water of five liter or more can be packed in the plastic containers having the blue tint to an extent of 33%. A new clause about this notification is proposed to be inducted under regulation number 2.10.7 in the said regulation.
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