Food Safety and Standards (Advertising and Claims) Second Amendment Regulations 2022

Subject :Economy

FSSAI laid the Food Safety and Standards (Advertising and Claims) Second Amendment Regulations, 2022.

Details:

It aims to create fairness in claims and advertisements of food products and make food businesses accountable for such claims /advertisements so as to protect consumer interests.
Food manufacturers should avoid using misleading “fancy adjectives” to describe the contents of their packs and brand names.
These words include labels such as “natural”, “fresh”, “pure”, “original”, “traditional”, “authentic”, “genuine”, and “real”, for the brand name or trademark which tends to mislead consumers as to the nature of the food.
In such cases a disclaimer shall be mentioned prominently on the front of pack of the label stating that – this is only a brand name or trademark, or fancy name and does not represent its true nature.
It also provides the font size of the above disclaimer.
advertisements in respect of a food product that undermines the importance of healthy lifestyles or portrays the product as a complete replacement for a normal meal are not permitted.

About front-of-package labeling (FoPL)

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines FoP labels as nutrition labelling systems that are presented on the front of food packages in the principal field of vision, and present simple, often graphic information on the nutrient content or nutritional quality of products.
- To complement the more detailed nutrient declarations provided on the back of food packages.
The Codex Alimentarius Commission mentions that “FoP labelling is designed to assist in interpreting nutrient declarations”.
FoP labelling system has long been listed as one of the global best practices to nudge consumers into healthy food choices.
It works just the way cigarette packets are labelled with images to discourage consumption.

FOPL and India

In India, Front of Package Labelling (FOPL) was first recommended in 2014 by an expert committee constituted by FSSAI in 2013.
In 2019, the FSSAI issued draft notification Food Safety Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations.
- The draft mandates colour-coded labels on food items.
In December 2019, the FSSAI delinked FOPL from general labelling regulations.
On 15th February 2022 the FSSAI decided to adopt the “health-star rating system” in its draft regulations for Front of Package Labelling (FOPL).
- Health-star rating system gives a product 1/2 a star to 5 stars.
- The HSR format ranks a packaged food item based on salt, sugar, and fat content and the rating will be printed on the front of the package.
- The rating will be the first such in India, a country burdened with lifestyle diseases, and is aimed at guiding consumers to opt for healthy food.