The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued amendments to the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales ) Regulations, 2011. The changes focus on removing restrictions on conditions of multi-source edible oils and remove the requirements for BIS and ISI certifications for specified products. These amendment regulations were issued on October 18, 2024 and have come into immediate effect.
Key Changes in the Amendment
The amendment specifies that the restriction on sale of a mixture of two or more edible oils as an edible oil will not apply to Multi-Source Edible Oil, as specified under clause 24 of sub-regulation 2.2.1 of regulation 2.2 of the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011. However, Multi-Source Edible Oil must not be sold in packages exceeding 15 liters.
Furthermore, the amendment regulations have removed the requirements of AGMARK certification mark on the labels of sealed packages of Multi-Source Edible Oils and fat spreads.
The amendment regulations also omit the restriction on sale of ghee having less Reichert value than that specified for the area where such ghee is sold.
Additionally, the requirement to give a declaration in Form A when a sample of ghee is taken by him for analysis and also to a purchaser desiring to have the sample analysed is now done away with. The form itself stands omitted from the regulations hence forth.
The amendment regulations remove the requirement of Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) Certification Mark for manufacture, sell, store or exhibit for sale food for infant nutrition and packaged drinking water and mineral water.
They also removes the requirement of Indian Standards Institution Certification Mark for sale of condensed milk sweetened, condensed skimmed milk sweetened, milk powder, skimmed milk powder, partly skimmed milk powder and partly skimmed sweetened condensed milk.
- In sub-regulation 2.3.14, several clauses have been modified:
- Clauses (4) and (5) have been removed.
- The phrase “AGMARK certification mark bearing” has been omitted from clause (11).
- Similarly, the phrase “AGMARK Certification mark bearing” has been removed from clause (13).
- Clauses (17) and (18) have also been omitted.
- Form A Removal:
- The amendment also includes the removal of Form A from the regulations.
Implications for the Food Industry
The changes are aimed at simplifying compliance and ensuring that the standards for food safety continue to be clear and manageable for businesses. Notably, the packaging limitation for Multi-Source Edible Oil highlights the government’s focus on regulating product sizes for better consumer clarity and compliance monitoring.
These amendments are expected to impact various stakeholders, including manufacturers, distributors, and retailers of edible oils and other food products. Industry experts recommend that businesses review and update their packaging and labeling practices to align with the new regulations as they take effect.
The FSSAI remains committed to ensuring the highest standards of food safety and quality in India and encourages all stakeholders to adhere to these updated regulations.
