The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has extended the timeline for compliance with the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restriction on Sales) Second Amendment Regulations, 2019, related to restriction on sale of common salt to January 1, 2021. The earlier compliance date ended on July 1.
In June 2019, FSSAI had issued notification prohibiting the sale of non-iodised common salt for direct human consumption or for use as an ingredient in food products. It has also prescribed the mandatory label declaration, as specified in the provisions of regulations of packaging and labelling in case of common salt meant for iodisation, iron fortification, animal use, preservation not meant for direct consumption and infant products.
As per the notification these provisions shall come into force on the date of their publication in the official gazette.
However, FBOs dealing in common salt trade have made representation before the apex food regulator seeking extension of time for compliance with these provisions citing technological issues related to product formulations, need for product quality and shelf life studies, review of the product performance with change of common salt to iodised salt, especially, in case of products where salt is a key ingredient.
Besides, FBOs cited operational issues like changes to be incorporated in product labels, and use of existing inventories of packaging material to avoid losses.
And, FSSAI agreed to the demand and extended the timeline for the compliance with provisions upto July 1, 2020, which is now extended to January 1, 2021, after further representation received by the FSSAI from FBOs citing lockdown and subsequent disturbance in supply chain due to Covid-19 pandemic.
FSSAI Extends Compliance Date for Norms on Sale of Common Salt to Jan 1
