In two recent notifications from June 2015, FSSAI has proposed changes to the Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues) Regulations, 2011. The proposed amendments to the standards of Melamine in Milk and Milk Products will come under a new sub-regulation called ‘Other Contaminants.” The limits of Biotoxins in Fish and Fish Products are proposed to be added in a new sub regulation. After their final notifications in the Official Gazettes all these various proposed amendments will be called Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues) (Amendment) Regulations 2015.
FSSAI has proposed to add a new regulation for standards for Melamine in Milk and Milk products with a clear emphasis on infant formula. This amendment when notified will come under a new head called ‘Other Contaminants’ (sub-regulation 2.4) The proposed amendment defines the maximum limits of Melamine in powdered infant formula, liquid infant formula and also the maximum limits of melamine in ‘Other Foods.’
Table 1: Standards for Melamine in Milk & Milk Products
Sl. No. | Name of the Contaminant | Article of Food | Maximum Level (mg/kg) |
---|---|---|---|
(1) | (2) | (3) | (4) |
1. | Melamine | Powdered Infant Formula Liquid Infant Formula Other Foods | 1.0 0.15 2.5" |
The proposed amendments for the limits of contaminants are related to regulation 2.2 dealing with “Crop contamination and naturally occurring toxin substances.” The contaminants for which limits have been proposed in Fish and Fish products are Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH) compounds in Fish and Fishery products.
All classes of polychlorinated biphenyls contaminants like PCB28, PCB 52, PCB101, PCB138, PCB153 and PCB180 that can be found in Inland and Migratory fish will have a limit of 2.0ppm. While all PCB contaminants found in Marine Fish, Crustaceans and Molluscs will have 0.5ppm limit. On the other hand the contaminant Benzo (a) Pyrene which is mainly found in Smoked Fish products will have a limit of 5.0ppb.
Table 2: Standard Limits of PCBs in Fish & Fish Products
Sl. No. | Name of the Contaminant | Article of Food | Limit |
---|---|---|---|
1. | Polychlorinated biphenyls (Sum of PCB28, PCB52, PCB101, PCB138, PCB153 and PCB180) | Inland and Migratory Fish | 2.0 ppm |
2. | Polychlorinated biphenyls (Sum of PCB28, PCB52, PCB101, PCB138, PCB153 and PCB180) | Marine Fish, Crustaceanes and Molluscs | 0.5 ppm |
3. | Benzo(a)pyrene | Smoked Fishery Products | 5.0 ppb |
Some new contaminants have also been added under a new sub-regulation that will be called “ Limits of biotoxins in fish and fish products.” This proposed amendment describes the limits of the various contaminants that have to maintained in Bivalve Molluscs. The new limits proposed are for the following contaminants like Paralytic Shellfish Poison (PSP) Amnesic Shellfish Poison (ASP), Diarrhetic Shellfish Poison (DSP), Azaspiracid Poison (AZP) and Brevetoxin (BTX).
Table 3: Standard Limits of Biotoxins in Bivalve Molluscs
Sl. No. | Name of the Contaminant | Article of the Food | Limit (µg/kg) |
---|---|---|---|
1. | Paralytic Shellfish Poison (PSP) | Bivalve Molluscs | 80 µg/100g (Saxitoxin Equivalent) |
2. | Amnesic Shellfish Poison (ASP) | Bivalve Molluscs | 20 µg/g (Domoic acid equivalent) |
3. | Diarrhetic Shellfish Poison (DSP) | Bivalve Molluscs | 160 µg of Okadaic acid equivalent/Kg |
4. | Azaspiracid Poison (AZP) | Bivalve Molluscs | 160 µg of azaspiracid equivalent/Kg |
5. | Brevetoxin (BTX) | Bivalve Molluscs | 200 mouse units or equivalent/Kg |
Source: FSSAI
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