The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued an Office Order to clarify the testing standards for in-shell nuts, such as almonds, in FSSAI-notified food testing laboratories. This order dated March 13, 2025 and published on March 18, 2025, aims to address confusion among stakeholders regarding the applicable regulations.
The FSSAI has become aware that FSSAI-notified laboratories are currently testing in-shell nuts against various standards, leading to ambiguity regarding the correct parameters for assessment.
In an effort to provide clarity, the FSSAI has stated that sub-regulation 2.3.47 (5) of the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011, specifically prescribes the standards for dry fruits and nuts, which includes unshelled (in-shell) nuts.
Consequently, all FSSAI-notified food testing laboratories operating under sections 43(1) and 43(2) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, are hereby informed and instructed to test all in-shell nut products solely against the standards outlined in the aforementioned sub-regulation.
This clarification is intended to:
- Ensure uniformity in testing procedures for in-shell nuts across all FSSAI-notified laboratories.
- Provide clarity to stakeholders regarding the applicable food safety standards for these products.
- Streamline the testing process and reduce confusion within the food industry.
