In a letter dated 17 October 2017, the FSSAI has stated that some companies are using the FSSAI License number, on their product labels to illegally manufacture, import or sell products made from hemp and hemp seeds. A report by FSSAI says that hemp is being illegally sold by various companies. They are being sold under various brand names with or without the FSSAI License number through various e-commerce platforms
FSSAI has also listed the hemp products, the company dealing with the product, the companies address as well as the FSSAI license number they are using on these products. The names of the products available on e-commerce platform Amazon are
- Hemp Seeds and the company name is Urban Platter,
- Hemp Protein made by Nutiva,
- Organic Raw Hemp from Agasthiya Herbs and Spices,
- Hemp Oil Seeds from Pacific Computech Ltd,
- Hemp Seed Flour made by Nutri Wish,
- Hemp Seed Oil Capsules and Omega made by Hamilton Healthcare,
- Raw Hemp Seeds by Sattive Foods,
- Hemp Hearts from Mani Toba,
- Hemp Seed Butter from Plant Guru,
- Hemp Seed Oil made by AOS Products Pvt Ltd
And also Hemp Seeds by Nature are being sold on Flipkart.
Presently no standards have been prescribed for Hemp and Hemp products under the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, Rules and Regulations made thereunder. There is also a lack of data and information on the variety of the plant to be used in the manufacturing process. The Scientific Committee at FSSAI is of the opinion that sufficient safety data would be required for a detailed assessment. In the absence of insufficient data and detailed risk assessment, the Scientific Committee has recommended not to consider standardization of hemp at this stage.
It has come to the notice of the FSSAI that some FBOs that have a food license issued by the State Licensing Authorities are selling food products in the name of hemp products. All such activities are illegal and unauthorized under food laws. The FSSAI has also issued letters to the e-commerce platforms to remove all such products from their websites immediately and confirm action taken to the FSSAI. Letters have gone out to the CEOs of like Amazon, Flipkart, Snapdeal, BigBasket, Grofers, Meragrocer, Grocery cart, Futurebazar, Homeshop 18, Zopnow and Nature’s Basket.
FSSAI has issued a letter to the Commissioners of Food Safety in the States and UTs, Authorised Officers, All-Central Licensing Authorities to keep a check on the sale of such products as foods in their areas of their jurisdiction, inspect the premises and firms and verify if the hemp products are being manufactured/ stored/ sold by these firms. The FSSAI has advised them to initiate appropriate action against the defaulting FBOs who are using the FSSAI License Number on the label of the product and selling the same food under the provisions laid down in the FSS Act, 2006, Rules and Regulations 2011 made thereunder. FSSAI has stated that the Authorised Officials may even serve notices to e-commerce businesses where these products are available for sale on the portals.
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