New norms for health supplements delayed

Articles of food falling under these regulations are specially processed or formulated for specific nutritional or dietary purposes, so these should be clearly distinguishable from foods intended for normal consumption by their special composition. This makes the framing of regulations for them difficult, official sources told Bizz Buzz

New Delhi: New regulations for health supplements, foods for special dietary use, etc., are yet to be finalized. As consequence, Food Safety and Standards (Health Supplements, Nutraceuticals, Food for Special Dietary Use, Food for Special Medical Purpose and Prebiotic and Probiotic Food) Regulations, 2022, will continue to govern such foods.

Articles of food falling under these regulations are specially processed or formulated for specific nutritional or dietary purposes, so these should be clearly distinguishable from foods intended for normal consumption by their special composition. This makes the framing of regulations for them difficult and time consuming, resulting in the delay, official sources told Bizz Buzz.

These foods are intended for the population above the age of two years. They are intended to be consumed orally in defined quantities and duration, they added.

There are five categories covered under these regulations: Health supplements (HS); nutraceuticals (Nutra); food for special dietary use (FSDU); food for special medical purpose (FSMP); and prebiotic food and probiotic food (Pre-Pro). Mere food forms such as vegetables and healthy cereals are beyond regulation. Therefore, the vegetables, millets, legumes, spices, fruits, plants, etc., which are regarded as healthy do not fall within the jurisdiction of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

In general, anything that is edible in a raw form or which is minimally processed (cleaned, de-weeded, sorted, dried or powdered) shall not constitute HS, Nutra, FSDU or FSMP.