Through a notification dated 8 June, 2020 the FSSAI has issued directions regarding operationalisation of the Food Safety and Standards (Food Product Standards and Food Additives) Amendment Regulations, 2020 related to standards for Fortified Atta, Fortified Maida, Iodized Salt and Iron Fortified Iodized Salt. With the operationalisation of this regulation food business operators will now have to follow the standards prescribed in the Fortification Regulation.
The Food Safety and Standards (Fortification of Foods) Regulations, 2018 was notified on 2 August, 2018. It prescribes the standards for Iodized Salt, Iron Fortified Iodized Salt (double fortified salt) when fortified with iron and iodine, Fortified Atta, Fortified Maida.
However, the standards for Iodized Salt, Iron Fortified Iodized Salt (double fortified salt) when fortified with iron and iodine, Fortified Atta, Fortified Maida are also prescribed in the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011. Therefore, to avoid any duplication a proposal for omission of these standards from the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011 was draft notified on 15 April, 2019 and the same is under the process of final notification.
Meanwhile, FSSAI has received representations from stakeholders stating that due to duplication of standards, they are facing legal action by State Food Authorities as the two regulations mentioned above are in variance with each other in respect of the level of fortification specified.
As the final notification of these regulations will take more time due to this pandemic COVID-19 situation and so to avoid any legal issues, the FSSAI has decided to operationalize the proposed notification prescribing the omission of all the clauses relating to standards for fortified atta, fortified maida, iodized salt and iron fortified iodized salt from the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and hood Additives) Regulations, 2011, with immediate effect till the issuance of final notification in this regard.
In the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011 in regulation 2.4 standards for fortified atta, fortified maida are now omitted and will no longer be applicable. Similarly, iodised salt and iron fortified common salt, iron fortified iodized salt (double fortified salt) will be omitted from sub-regulation 2.9.30 along with all entries against them.
FSSAI has also omitted “Beverage-ALCOHOLIC” (regulation 2.10.5) from these regulations.
Now only the Food Safety and Standards (Fortification of Foods) Regulations, 2018, and all fortified food products must be in compliance fortification standards prescribed under these regulations only as there is no longer any duplication of standards.
Source: FSSAI
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