The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India on 25th July 2022, has notified the Guidelines for submission of applications for endorsement of vegan logo. As per sub-regulation 5 of FSS (Vegan Foods) Regulations, 2022, the Food Business Operator shall submit an application to the concerned licensing authority with all necessary details in a format as may be specified by the Authority. No vegan food products shall he imported except with a certificate issued by the recognized authorities of the exporting countries in the format as specified by the Authority is accepted.
The Procedure for endorsement of vegan food logo is as follows:
- The Food Business Operator shall submit an application in FORM-A along with necessary documents and fee of rupees Five Thousand (excluding G.S.T) payable to Senior Accounts Officer. The Food Authority may direct the applicant to submit additional supporting documents, data or clarifications, if required. The Food Authority may either grant approval or reject the application, as per FORM-B.
- A food business operator, who is aggrieved by the decision of the Chief Executive Officer, Food Authority may file review petition to be placed for consideration in the meeting of the Food Authority
- If a food business operator has any reason to believe that the vegan food for which the approval has been granted poses any risk to health or has not complied with the general requirement specified under sub-regulation 3 of FSS (Vegan Foods) Regulations, 2022, the Food Business Operator shall immediately suspend the manufacture, import, sale, or distribution of such article of food and take steps to recall the same under intimation to Food Authority in accordance with the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards (Food Recall) Regulations, 2017.
- Food Safety Officers and Designated Officers shall immediately inform the Food Authority of any complaint received regarding safety of any product approved by the Food Authority under FSS (Vegan Foods) Regulations, 2022.
