At a recent conference organized by PHD Chambers on Indian Nutra & Health Food Industry, the chairperson of FSSAI, Mr. K. Chandramouli (Chief Guest for the occasion) said that the FSSAI is already working on the regulations on Nutraceuticals, Health & Dietary Supplements and other foods listed under Section 22 of Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The Chairperson also informed the audience that the recent judgment of the Bombay High Court was not the final judgment and it was only the opinion that the third judge had expressed on the split verdict given by judges; Justice V M Kanade and Justice Girish Kulkarni.
He called the FSS Act as one of the best legislations in the world. Mr. Chandramouli further said that the FSSAI is looking to work with the industry. There have been some issues that the industry has raised and this is bound to happen as it was the first time that such a good Act (FSS Act) had been formed in India to safeguard the interest of the consumers and other stakeholders.
The Chairperson acknowledged that the major problems had crept up only in the last couple of years. The biggest issues he said had come up because of the definition of the Act where there had been misinterpretations and misunderstandings on the part of the Industry and others.
A new regulation to discuss the existing issues is on the cards and the draft of the same will be uploaded on the official website of FSSAI for suggestions and participation of all stakeholders, the Chairperson said during the conference.
The important areas where he felt that needed to be discussed on a common platform were
- Safety of the consumer
- Evaluating the standards thoroughly to increase the current spectrum of the existing standards list of categories of food products He said that the Codex standards were majorly referred but we will also take into account the other reputed international bodies like EU, Food Standards of Australia New Zealand & others.
- Setting the standards (More scientific studies data was required )
On a question from the audience that the Apex Food Body does not involve all stakeholders while making regulations, the Chairperson categorically denied this and said that from the time the FSS Act was formed in 2006 till the time the regulations were made in 2011, they had taken into account the suggestion and comments offered, before taking a final call on the formation of the regulations in 2011.
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