The FSSAI has issued directions dated 22 October, 2021 extending the timeline for compliance with the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020.
The FSSAI has drawn reference to its previous directions/ notifications which are as follows
- The Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations 2020 dated 17 November, 2020 which were to be enforced for compliance with effect from 17 November, 2021.
- The Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) First Amendment Regulations,2021 dated 10 September, 2021 and which was being enforced for compliance with effect from 17 November 2021.
- The FSSAI directions dated 29 June, 2021 regarding the nomenclature of Blended Edible Vegetable Oil (BEVO) which were being enforced for compliance on 17 November 2021
- The Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) First Amendment Regulations,2021, dated 4 March, 2021 which was to be enforced for compliance with effect from 01 January 2022
- The Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Third Amendment Regulations, 2021 dated 26 July, 2021 which was being enforced for compliance with effect from 01 February 2022.
- The Food Safety and Standards (Health Supplements, Nutraceuticals, Food for Special Dietary Use, Food for Special Medical Purpose, Functional Food and Novel Food) First Amendment Regulations, 2021 dated 6 September, 2021 which was to be enforced for compliance with effect from 01 April, 2022
- FSSAI directions dated 22 June 2021 regarding implementation of the Food Safety and Standards (Foods for Infant Nutrition) Regulations, 2020 which was being enforced for compliance with effect from 01 April, 2022
On the above directions/notifications, the FSSAI has stated that the concerns of the industry in respect of the dates of enforcement of various labelling provisions specified in these regulations/ directions and the request to defer these dates were considered by the 36th meeting of the Food Authority which was held on 23 September, 2021.
The FSSAI has also considered the request from the industry representatives to maintain the status quo in respect of the tolerance limits for the label-declared quantity of nutrients, currently specified in the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulations 2011 till such time as a decision is taken on the finalisation of revised tolerance limits.
On the above, the FSSAI has decided as follows
- The timeline for the mandatory compliance of the provisions, relating to labelling only in the above-mentioned notifications/directions has been extended to 1 July, 2022. (Except the FSSAI directions regarding the nomenclature of Blended Edible Vegetable Oil (BEVO) which were being enforced for compliance on 17 November 2021). Till such time food business operators may use the specified labelling provisions on a voluntary basis. However, products mentioned in these notifications/ directions shall comply with the standards and all other requirements specified therein.
- With reference to the directions regarding the nomenclature of Blended Edible Vegetable Oil (BEVO), the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Amendment Regulation 2021, Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Amendment Regulation 2021 and the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Amendment Regulations, 2021, as enclosed are being re-operationalised with effect from 1 July 2022.
- In the context of tolerance limits for nutrients, the FSSAI has stated that the existing provision of the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulations 2011, as under shall prevail till a final decision is taken by the FSSAI in this regard.
“The compliance to the quantity of declared nutrients on the label shall be according to the established practices.”
SOURCE: FSSAI
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