Through a letter issued on 20 November 2018, the FSSAI has stated that all imported areca/ betel nut consignments will be subjected to food testing as per prescribed standards. Standards for areca/betel nuts have been prescribed in the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products and Standards and Food Additives) Regulation 2011 under the sub-regulation ARECANUTS OR BETELNUTS OR SUPARI (2.3.55). The areca/ betel nuts have to also comply with the standards given in the Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, Toxins andResidues) Regulations, 2011. Further, according to the amendment in the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products and Standards and Food Additives) Regulation 2011 dated 27 November 2017, the prescribed limit for aflatoxins in areca nuts is15μg/kg.
Areca nut, the fruit of the Areca Palm (Areca catechu L.), commonly referred to as a betel nut is prone to the formation of fungal growth during various stages of production, storage, and transportation. Accordingly, the FSSAI has decided that all the consignments of imported areca/ betel nut
- Shall not be cleared through the Risk management System (RMS)
- All the imported consignments shall be subjected to 100% sampling and testing
The FSSAI has also advised all Authorised Officers and Customs Officials who are notified as Authorised Officers by FSSAI to be vigilant and to strictly ensure that imported areca/betel nut consignments are fully in compliance with the above mentioned FSS regulations before any clearance is given.
About areca nuts
India ranks first in both area and production of areca nuts and the history of chewing areca nuts in India goes back ancient times mainly because they contain certain medicinal properties. However, are nuts contaminate with aflatoxins can cause health issues and must be avoided. Areca nuts become contaminated when they have high moisture content and are not processed and dried properly. Also when areca nuts are harvested prematurely and then dried in heaps, they become prone to fungal growth. Aflatoxins can induce acute toxicity, carcinogenicity and can have several other adverse effects on human health. Contamination of areca nuts with such cancer-causing fungi has been reported in several countries. Long-term consumption of such aflatoxin-contaminated food, even in small quantities, can lead to many human health problems so there is a need to ensure aflatoxin content is within regulatory limits.
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