Through an order dated 30 April 2019, the FSSAI has issued directions regarding the extension of the time period for the usage of the term Wheat Flour (Atta) and Refined Wheat Flour (Maida) on the labels of the packaged food products. Food Safety and Standards (Food Product Standards and Food Additives) Regulations 2011, wherein clause 3, Protein rich (paushtik) Maida mentions the term ‘Maida (wheat flour)’ in the definition. However, it has been observed that the Food Business Operators are using the term ‘Wheat Flour’ as the English nomenclature for Maida on the label of the food products which does not convey the exact nature of the ingredient used for manufacturing of various food items to the consumers as well as enforcement officials and so to bring in more clarity the FSSAI had issued directions about the nomenclature for English version of Atta and Maida
The FSSAI has now issued this new order, as dated above, which is in continuation of the earlier direction issued on 1 February, 2019 where a transition of three months, up to 30 April 2019 was given to the Food Business Operators to comply with the direction on the usage of terms wheat flour and refined wheat flour.
- The FSSAI has received representations from various Industry Associations and Food Business Operators for the extension of the time period for compliance of these directions. Taking into consideration the submissions of the Food Business Operators, the FSSAI has decided to extend the time period for another three months i.e. up to 31 July 2019.
- Further, the matter regarding the nomenclature of ‘Atta’ on labels of food products has been reconsidered by the Scientific Committee and it has been decided to replace the nomenclature of Atta to “Wheat Flour” instead of the previously decided “Whole Wheat Flour”
- Further it has also been decided that if the case of labels where the Devanagari script has been used like the word “आटा” or the word “मैदा” then they may be used in place or Wheat Flour (Atta) and Refined Wheat Flour (Maida) respectively.
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