In a step aimed at enhancing the business environment under the principle of ‘One Nation, One Commodity, One Regulator,’ the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) approved several amendments during its 43rd meeting to simplify regulations related to food safety and standards.
Chaired by Union Health Secretary Apurva Chandra, the meeting sanctioned a series of amendments to eliminate the need for multiple certification authorities, including Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and AGMARK certification for food products. Additionally, it addressed certification requirements for Mead in Honey wine and Ready-to-Drink (RTD) alcoholic beverages, as well as standards for milk fat products, Haleem, and more.
Upon the completion of these amendments, food enterprises will no longer be required to approach various authorities for compulsory certification. Instead, only FSSAI certification will be mandated for food products.
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The Food Authority also approved a first-of-its-kind and comprehensive manuals of methods of analysis for ensuring regulatory compliance of the food products.
The amendments to various Food Safety and Standards Regulations were approved during the meeting for the draft notification, seeking stakeholder input prior to finalization. These modifications encompassed the updating of standards for Milk Fat Products, wherein the fatty acid specifications for Ghee will also extend to other milk fat products.
The Food Authority is also going to set standards for ‘Haleem’ as part of standards for meat products. Haleem is a dish made of meat, pulses, grains and other ingredients, which currently don’t have any set standards.
G. Kamala Vardhana Rao, CEO, FSSAI; officials from the ministry of health and family welfare, ministry of commerce, ministry of consumer affairs, food and public distribution, ministry of law and justice, ministry of MSME; states and union territories attended the meeting. Representatives from industry associations, consumer organisations, research institutes and farmers’ organisations were also present in the meeting.
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