Implement new relaxed regulations: FSSAI to state regulators

In a bid to ease product approval system, food safety watchdog FSSAI has asked all state food regulators to implement the new relaxed norms for those items wherein standards have not been laid down so far.
FSSAI had earlier this month said that products for which standards have not been framed but have ingredients and additives that are approved by the regulator, may not require any approval.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has laid down quality standards for 370 products. Its approval is a must for all other products, which are also known as Proprietary food.

The notification, dated January 12, was issued to amend the Food Safety and Standards Regulations.
The central food safety regulator has issued a circular, dated January 14, directing all the state food regulators to implement the new relaxed norms for product approval process.
In the notification, the regulator said: "Proprietary food shall contain only those ingredients other than additives which are either standardised in these Regulations or permitted for use in the preparation of other standardised food under these regulations."

The notification also adds that the proprietary food shall use only such additives as specified for the category to which the food belongs and it shall be clearly mentioned on the label.

However it has also been clarified that the food business operator shall be fully responsible for the safety of the proprietary food.
These new norms will not apply to novel food, food for special dietary use, functional food, nutraceutical and health supplement articles of food.