In 2018 the FSSAI accelerated the process of setting standards setting because as many as 27 new regulations for food standards were notified during the year. Some of the key regulations are as follows
- alcoholic beverages
- food fortification
- advertising and claims
- packaging
- residues of pesticides
- tolerance limits of antibiotics and pharmacologically active substances
Food businesses are usually provided a period of at least 6-months as a transition period before the new standards come into force and date of effect of standards is either 1st January or1st July. Several of the key new food standards come into force from 1st January 2019 are as follows
- Standards for all pulses, whole and decorticated pearl millet grains, degermed maize flour and maize grit, couscous, Tempe, textured soy protein, sago flour, bee wax, and royal jelly.
- Microbiological standards for fruits and vegetables and their products.
- All provisions of organic food regulations.
- Standards for honey, except few parameters where test methods are being validated.
Some of the standards for which the dates of compliance have been extended because of representatives from stakeholders about various issues coming in the way of compliance are as follows
- Tolerance limit of antibiotics and pharmacology active substances would come into effect on1st January 2019. Representations have however been received from various stakeholders highlighting some technical issues, hence the compliance period is being extended by three months to sort out these issues.
- Standards for alcoholic beverages will come into force on 1st April 2019 to coincide with financial year requirements excise laws.
- Food fortification regulations will come into force on 1st July 2019
- Revised standards for milk and milk products have come into force on 1st July 2018, except the compliance of labeling requirements for frozen dessert which would apply from 1st July 2019 unless reviewed.
- The regulations on Advertising and Claims, packaging and Labelling requirements of Blended Edible Vegetable Oils will come into force on 1st July 2019.
New standards for fruits and vegetable including canned tomato, jam, jelly and marmalade that were notified earlier have already come into force on 1st July 2018.
Yogeshwar Singh says
As per this – New Standards for honey, except few parameters where test methods are being validated come into force from 1st January 2019.
REQUEST –
The standards published under Notification -No. 293] NEW DELHI, FRIDAY, AUGUST 3, 2018 on HONEY had several discrepancies. Besides the laid down specifications there were serious anomalies in other clauses and the HINDI TRANSLATION. I had submitted the detailed suggestions.
The REVISED NOTIFICATION MAY PLEASE BE MADE AVAILABLE.