India's Food Safety Authority Blocking Some Packaged Food Imports

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India starts enforcing stricter labeling requirments to the dismay of importers

According to the Business Standard , the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has started to crack down on strict labeling requirements on packaged food produces, causing several containers of packaged food products carrying imported chocolates, gourmet cheese, olive oil, biscuits, noodles, pasta, jams, honey, oats and sauces, etc, being recently blocked at various ports and airports across the country, in the absence of a clearance from FSSAI. The FSSAI, which supervises import of food items to ensure quality, refused permission by citing the labeling requirements in the Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006, which took effect in 2011.

“The law of the land is valid for everyone, for domestic suppliers as well as importers, and all are expected to follow it," FSSAI’s chief executive officer Dillip Kumar Samantaray, told Business Standard. Samantaray added that food was a sensitive commodity and products such as jams and chocolates were mostly consumed by children, so quality and specifications could not be compromised. “If domestic manufacturers export products to other countries, they are required to abide by the law of that country. Then why should India not ensure the health of its citizens?” To read more, click HERE.

 

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