Food Safety and Standards of India (FSSAI) has issued a draft notification dated 25 August 2021 related to the Food Safety and Standards (Vegan Foods) Amendment Regulations, 2021.
FSSAI has issued directions under Section 16 (5) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 regarding compliance with Food Safety and Standards (Vegan Foods) Regulations, 2022. It was published in the Official Gazette of India on dated 10th June 2022.vide Notification No. F. No. Std/TF-Vegan Foods/Notif./FSSAI and enforced from the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.
FSSAI has considered the representation received from various stakeholders highlighting the procedural issues, specifically related to prior approval for use of the Vegan Logo. It has been decided to extend the timeline for mandatory compliance with the Food Safety and Standards (Vegan Foods) Regulations, 2022 by 6 months from the date of uploading of the Guidelines for submission of applications for endorsement of the Vegan logo and formats thereof on the FSSAI website, i.e., up to 26th January 2023.
Veganism is a concept that’s gaining rapid movement in India as more people are getting away from meat-based products. India is a country where vegetarianism is not new, but veganism is something that people are increasingly opting for as a new lifestyle trend. It’s a concept that prohibits the consumption of all the by-products obtained from animals and thus one cannot consume dairy, eggs, meat, and even honey when on a vegan diet.
Vegetarianism /Veganism popularity booming in India, and numerous companies are entering the market with so-called “vegan” items, although the approach appears to disregard veganism’s norms. Thus, the Food Safety and Standards Association of India (FSSAI) has recently issued new guidelines and regulations in order to prevent the sale of counterfeit vegan food.
To eliminate confusion, these new guidelines will make it easier for people to recognize vegan food. According to FSSAI, no one may produce, pack, sell, offer for sale, promote, or otherwise distribute or import any product as vegan food unless they meet the conditions outlined in the laws.
The new FSSAI rules:
The FSSAI has said that no person can manufacture, pack, sell, offer for sale market or otherwise distribute or import any food as vegan food unless they comply with the requirements laid down under the regulations. “The food products to be called vegan, shall not have involved animal testing for any purpose, including safety evaluation, unless provided by any regulatory authority,” as per the regulations notified on June 10.
Every packaging material used for vegan foods should adhere to the packaging regulations. Vegan food should be stored and displayed in a way that distinguishes it from non-vegan food, whether sold individually or as part of retail items. Following approval, every packaging of vegan foods must bear the FSSAI-specified logo. According to the FSSAI regulations, the Food Business Operator (FBO) must ensure that all stages of production, processing and distribution are designed to take the necessary precautions in accordance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) in order to avoid the unintended presence of non-vegan substances.
If the same manufacturing line is shared with non-vegan products or ingredients, it is recommended that thorough cleaning or comparable GMP-compliant actions be carried out before the production of vegan products begins. Before vegan products are prepared, processed, or packed, the FBO should take the necessary procedures in accordance with GMP. Traceability must be ensured up to the manufacturer’s level. The FBO should follow any further rules established by the food authority from time to time in order to maintain the vegan integrity of the foods, food ingredients, or products thereof.
–By Mansi Nautiyal