India Extends the Approval to Import of Foods for Inborn Errors of Metabolism Condition

On Jan. 19, 2021, India FSSAI announced to extend the approval to infant foods for IEM condition till Jun. 30, 2021 and specified its market access requirements.

The overseas manufacturers should submit the materials required (documents related to the composition, label and claims of the product they intend to export) to FSSAI for examination. Once the review is approved, the enterprises can export their products based on this onetime permission, but the products imported must stringently adhere to the information registered.

The medical condition for usage should be clearly stated on the label and the manufacturer/importer should ensure such products are consumed only under the supervision of health care professionals.

There are 15 inborn errors of metabolism conditions permitted in this announcement, such as maple syrup urine disease, Glutaric acidemia type I, Homocystinuria. Click here for the completed list.

As the standards of foods for infants with IEM and hypoallergenic infant milk substitutes have been specified in Food Safety and Standards (Foods for Infant Nutrition) Regulations issued in Dec. 2020 and will be implemented starting from Jul. 1st 2021, the import of food for IEM will be officially approved from then on.