Question : FOOD SAFETY AND STANDARDS AUTHORITY OF INDIA

(a) whether it is mandatory to get the no objection certificates from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India before manufacturing, distribution, sale or import of functional food products;

(b) if so, the details thereof including guidelines promulgated in this regard;

(c) the details of cases that have come to the notice of the Government in regard to violation of above guidelines so far; and

(d) the monitoring mechanism put in place to check the malpractices and corruption activities in this regard along with the result thereof?

THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI GHULAM NABI AZAD)

(a)&(b): As per the guidelines dated 11.05.2013, issued by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), prescribing the procedure for obtaining product approval from FSSAI, the manufacturer and importer should get No Objection Certificate (NOC) / Product Approval (PA) for the food products for which standards are not specified under the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, 2006 and the Rules & Regulations made thereunder, including for the functional food. These guidelines are available on FSSAI’s website at link www.fssai.gov.in/Portals/0/Pdf/ProductApproval(17-05-2013).pdf

(c)&(d): No such violations have been reported so far.