Exemptions from Food labelling requirements under FSS Act : Module 15

The FSS (Packaging and Labelling) Regulations indicates certain cases where one or more of the mandatory information required to be given on the labels such as list of ingredients, Lot Number or Batch Number or Code Number, nutritional information, the ‘date of manufacture’ or ‘best before date’ or ‘expiry date’ and instructions for use, need not be given on the labels. Such cases are as given below:-

15.1 If the surface area of the package is not more than 100 square centimeters, the label declaration such as ;

• list of ingredients,
• Lot Number or Batch Number or Code Number,
• Nutritional information and
• Instructions for use, need not be given on the labels . but this information shall be given on the wholesale packages or multi piece packages, as the case may be.

15.2 If the surface area of the package is less than 30 square centimeters, the label declaration; such as ;-

• list of ingredients,
• Lot Number or Batch Number or Code Number,
• Nutritional information
• The ‘date of manufacture’ or ‘best before date’ or ‘expiry date’ and
• Instructions for use, need not be given on the labels, but these information shall be given on the wholesale packages or multi-piece packages, as the case may be;

15.3 In case of liquid products marketed in bottles and the bottle is intended to be reused for refilling, the declaration such as ;

(i) list of ingredients need not be given on the label . If the glass bottles have been manufactured after March 19, 2009,then the list of ingredients and nutritional information are required to be given on the bottle.

15.4 In case of food with shelf-life of not more than seven days, the label declaration such as;

(i) The ‘date of manufacture’; need not to be mentioned on the label of packaged food articles, but the ‘use by date’ is required to be mentioned on the label by the manufacturer or packer.

15.5 On the wholesale packages the label declaration such as;

1. List of ingredients.
2. Date of manufacture/ packing,
3. Best before or expiry date
4. Labelling of irradiated food and ,
5. Vegetarian logo/non vegetarian logo, need not to be given on the label.

The exceptions here only apply in certain situations and cases. The food business operators should take very serious note of the points discussed here in this module otherwise there may be a chance of breach of the mandatory guidelines issued for food labelling.

PS – This was the last module of the free e-course on food labeling in compliance with the Food Safety and Standards Act.

Once you register and subscribe to the course, we will send you the first module on the third day from the registration and the subsequent modules will be sent in the similar pattern i.e. with a gap of two days.

We have concluded here the contents of course study on food labelling. We really appreciate your time & involvement in this project. Looking forward for your recommendations through your personal and professional people engagements. Also request you to please suggest in case there is any area of improvement.