FSSAI proposes new rules for nutraceuticals, ayurvedic products

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued a draft notification for regulating norms such as mis-labelling of ‘health supplements’.

Next time you buy health supplements, be aware.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued a draft notification for regulating norms such as mis-labelling of ‘health supplements’.

The food safety regulator has come out with gazetted rules proposing to ban the sale of such products as ‘medicines’. It has also framed rules for products based on ayurveda, sidhha, unani and other traditional health systems.

As a solution, the FSSAI has called for fixing of permissible limits of various ingredients used in products, which are based on traditional health systems.

“Every package of food or health supplements shall carry the information on the label... the words FOOD or HEALTH SUPPLEMENT... the term ‘NOT FOR MEDICINAL USE’ shall be prominently written on the label,” according to the order.

Under the proposed norms, companies cannot claim that their nutraceuticals and health supplement products are for therapeutic and curative purposes.

The FSSAI has also proposed the maximum usage levels for cow’s milk, buffalo’s milk, camel’s milk, ghee, curd, butter, honey, gold, gold foil, silver, pearl in ayurveda, siddha and unani ingredients-based products.

It has also fixed limits, including maximum usage levels per day, in case of a health or food supplement based on ayurveda, siddha and unani.

The regulator has invited industry comments and will finalise the regulations after receiving them.