Question : Sale of Muscle Building Food Supplements

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has paid attention towards large scale sale of imported and indigenously manufactured food supplements meant for reducing weight and muscle building in the country;

(b) if so, whether regular testing and monitoring regarding efficacy and quality of these food supplements are being done by the Government;

(c) if so, the details thereof; and

(d) if not, the corrective measures taken by the Government in this regard?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)
(a) to (d): Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has notified Food Safety and Standards (Health Supplements, Nutraceuticals, Food for Special Dietary Use, Food for Special Medical Purpose, Functional Food and Novel Food) Regulations, 2016 on 23.12.2016, which, inter-alia, contain standards to regulate manufacture, sale and import of these products in India. To check the compliance of the provisions of the said regulations, along with other relevant regulations, regular surveillance, monitoring, inspection and random sampling of food items is being done by the Food Safety Officials of the State/UT Governments.

In case of non-compliance of the provisions, action is taken against the defaulting Food Business Operator under the penal provisions of the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, 2006.