Ahead of the scheduled implementation of new food labeling rules by August 20, industry representatives have pleaded for their postponement till the setting up of the Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSA). They have argued that FSSA would have its own view on the issue, which should be respected as it would be the sole regulator, empowered to deal with the subject.

Experts and industry representatives, who met the Union health secretary to discuss the matter today. Sources said, however, that the ministry has not informed whether the implementation of new rules would be deferred or not. It is expected that FSSA would be set up by the end of this year, they added.

According to government notification 491(E) issued on August last year, the health ministry has inserted some new food labeling rules to the Prevention of Food Adulteration Rules, 1955. All packed food items should carry some additional information. This includes the manufacturing/ packing date (month and year) on a package size as small as 10 cm2, as well as nutritional and other information.

According to the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), implementation of the new food-labeling rules would put the food industry in a spot. The industry cannot have a set of labeling rules just for a few months as inventories are controlled for more than year or so.

When FSSA would be set up, its experts and members would design new rules. Industry feels it would suffer as a result.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Indian Confectionery Manufactures Association vice-president Harsh Arora said, “The implementation of these rules is impossible as there would be more than 20 heads under which we have to provide information. These rules are applicable to candies too, which barely have any space for all these details. It is impossible to implement these food labeling rules.”

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