Question : QUALITY STANDARD FOR INDIAN TRADITIONAL SWEETS



(a) whether several sweets and snacks products sold in the country have neither domestic standards under Food Safety and Standards Regulations (FSSR) nor Codex Standards created by the UN`s Food and Agriculture Organization and World Health Organization (WHO);

(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;

(c) whether the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is planning to bring in stricter quality standards for the preparation of sweets and snacks products;

(d) if so, the details thereof along with the time by which it is likely to be implemented; and

(e) the steps taken by the Government to make the Indian traditional sweets and snacks products acceptable all over the world?

Answer given by the minister



THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI ABU HASEM KHAN CHOUDHARY)

(a) & (b) The Sweets and Snacks Products (Traditional Sweets) for which the standards have not been prescribed fall under the category of “Proprietary Food”. These products should comply with the regulatory provisions like FSS (Contaminants, Toxins & Residues) Regulation, 2011 and Table 2 of Appendix A and Appendix B of Food Safety and Standards (FSS) (Food Product Standards and Food Additives) Regulation, 2011. Codex has prescribed some standards for Sweets and Snacks under Table 2 of General Standards for Food Additive (GSFA).

(c) & (d) Sweets and Snack Products are required to comply with the above mentioned Regulations. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has initiated the process of revision/ harmonization of standards for food products with those of Codex and other international best practices and to develop new standards in respect of those food products where there is a need to develop standards taking into account the Codex and other international best practices.

(e) Export promotion of Indian traditional sweets and snack products is looked after by Agriculture and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority, under the Ministry of Commerce. The products have to comply with the standards of the importing countries.