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On 4 June 2018, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) published a draft notification proposing a revision to the list of food additives permitted for use in food and prohibited flavoring agents as prescribed in the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations. Objections and comments may be submitted within 60 days from the online publication of this notice or up to 30 days from the draft notification of these standards in the Official Gazette, whichever is later.
Verisk 3E Review
The draft notification seeks to amend regulations for the list of food additives permitted for use in various food products as prescribed in Appendix A of the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations. Under Indian regulations, no food product may contain food additives which are not on this list or exceed the thresholds without prior approval from the FSSAI. In addition, the proposed draft Notification seeks to amend the list of prohibited flavoring agents used in any article of food as prescribed under Rule 3.3.1 (4) of the same regulations. Key highlighted changes proposed are the addition of:
- epoxydec-2(trans)-enal to the list of prohibited flavoring agents to be used in any article of food;
- three food additives and their maximum thresholds to be permitted for use in vegetable oil and fats:
- lactic and fatty acid esters of glycerol at 10,000 mg/kg;
- mono and diglycerides of fatty acids at good manufacturing practice (GMP); and
- polyglycerol esters of fatty acid at 5,000 mg/kg;
- microcrystalline wax with a threshold limit of 20,00 mg/kg to the list of permitted food additives for use in chewing gum.
The draft also proposes a threshold decrease for sorbates in "fat spreads, dairy fat spreads and blended spreads" from 2000 mg/kg to 1000 mg/kg. In addition, the food category "vegetable oils and fats” would be renamed “vegetable oils, fats and bakery shortenings.” This would remove bakery shortening from the sub-category of “fat spreads, dairy fat spreads, and blended spreads" and add it to "vegetable oils and fats."
The draft revision would also remove the following food additives from the list of permitted food additives:
- pimaricin (natamicin) for use in ripened cheese;
- potassium iodate for use in flour and starch; and
- potassium iodate for use in cakes, cookies, biscuits, crackers, and pies.
The draft revision will clarify the INS numbers of lecithin for use in “vegetable oils and fats” from 322 (i) to 322 (i) and 322 (ii), and sodium citrate for use in “vegetable oils and fats” from 331 (iii) to 331 (i).
Verisk 3E Analysis
The changes in the draft regulation will provide clearer guidance for industry in complying with the food additive requirements. They also signal efforts by FSSAI to issue and enforce food safety requirements. Manufacturers and importers of affected food products and food additives should consult the notice and send relevant comments and objections to FSSA by 3 August 2018 via email to regulation@fssai.gov.in or by post to: Chief Executive Officer, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, 3rd Floor, Food and Drug Administration Bhawan, Kotla Road, New Delhi - 110002.
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