FSSAI limits enforcement against nutraceuticals to testing

The CII chairman on national committee on food processing industry said this will address the operational issues of the industry

Food regulator Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has restricted enforcement activity against nutraceuticals and health supplement companies to only testing of products till new standards are notified.

"It has been decided that till standards of nutraceuticals, food supplements and health supplements are finally notified, the enforcement activities against such food business operators may be restricted to testing... With respect to requirements given in the draft notification on such products," the FSSAI said in an order.

This means that the companies getting relief will be those whose products were launched before the Food Safety and Standards Act came into force in 2011 and whose product approvals are pending as on August 19, 2015.

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Following a Supreme Court order on August 19 questioning the procedure followed for approvals by the food regulator, FSSAI had decided to discontinue the approval process.

Welcoming the FSSAI's latest order, Confederation of Indian Industry Chairman on National Committee on Food Processing Industry Piruz Khambatta said this will address the operational issues of the industry.