INDIA – India’s food statutory body, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued a directive for amendment in the nomenclature of ‘Blended Edible Oil’ which was recently renamed as ‘Multi Sourced Edible Vegetable Oil’.
According to the direction, the ‘Multi Sourced Edible Vegetable Oil’, a term which came into effect on June 8, 2021, after the FSSAI had earlier notified the same in the official gazette, will now be referred to as ‘Multi Sourced Edible Oil’.
The term ‘vegetable’ was removed after the apex food regulator got representation from the stakeholders expressing concerns over the labelling requirement and the alignment of such a ‘large’ nomenclature on the packages.
“Considering the concerns regarding labelling and need to align the nomenclature, the food authority in its 33rd meeting held on 23rd March 2021 has decided to remove the term ‘vegetable’ and change the nomenclature as ‘Multi Sourced Edible Oil’ wherever it is specified in the FSS Regulations,” read the notification.
Further, food businesses also entreated the FSSAI to extend the dates for compliance with the provisions of labelling and display rules pointing to the several amendments which have been agreed to by the scientific panel like font size, nomenclature, warning statement on sweeteners and others.
One of the regulations under Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Amendment Regulations, 2021, mentioned that every package containing an admixture of edible oils shall declare the name, form and percentage by weight of the oil, in bold capital letters immediately below its brand name on the front of pack.
The displays should also adhere to the specific length measurements given.
In addition, the declaration, ‘NOT TO BE SOLD LOOSE’ should be written in bold capital letters along with the name of product on the front of pack.
The FSSAI declared that it has succumbed to the businesses request and as such prolonged the compliance date to November 17 after which the directives will come into place.
“The Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Amendment Regulations 2021, Food Safety Standards (Food Product Standards and Food Additive) Amendment Regulations 2021 and Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Amendment Regulations 2021 are operationalized from 17.11.2021 to address the concerns,” read the directive.
