FSSAI refuses to compromise on standards of food imports

Says can't allow some relaxation because it concerns health of public

Even as many imported food items continue to perish at several ports across the country and companies are opposing the Food Safety and Standards Authority’s (FSSAI) directives blocking consignments of packaged foods over labeling issues, the government maintains that it cannot compromise on standards since it concerns health of people.

“FSSAI’s move is in line with the law. It is the regulator’s job to ensure that companies selling food items in India – whether they are Indian or foreign – must comply with the law,” a health ministry official said. The notification issued by the regulator earlier this month clearly specifies the need for printed information on packaged food products, he pointed out. “How can any company import goods without proper information?”

FSSAI— the regulatory agency under the health ministry that supervises import of food items to ensure quality — has blocked several consignments of packaged food, citing tougher labelling requirements arising from a new law, the Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006, that came into force in 2011.

The primary reason of dispute is that while companies often use stickers on imported products to specify certain information that are mandatory in India, the food regulator insists that it is essential to have printed product information on packs shipped to the country.

“Why should they have stickers? Stickers are temporary measures. When our norms are clearly laid out, companies must print them on the packs that are to be shipped to the country,” the official said pointing out that there are various problems with use of stickers. “Stickers often go out during transit or at times there are several stickers pasted on one pack,” he added.

As per the food law in India, companies importing food products to India must label their products with certain specified information such as nutritional information, dots differentiating between vegetarian and non-vegetarian items etc.

The official, however, said that the ministry had not received any representation from the industry on the matter. “We will look at it if it is brought to us but compliance has to be ensured in any case,” the official insisted.