Takehome:
- The first legislation regarding health supplements and nutraceuticals in India has been finalized, covering eight food categories and details the requirements for composition, claims, labeling, etc. for each specific category.
On Dec. 23, 2016, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) notified the finalization of “Food Safety and Standards (Health Supplements, Nutraceuticals, Foods for Special Medical Purposes, Functional Foods and Novel Foods) Regulation, 2016”, which will be formally implemented from Jan. 1, 2018 (see CL report for the draft regulation on Sep. 23, 2015).
This new regulation covers the provisions for eight food categories, which are health supplements, nutraceuticals, foods for special dietary purpose, foods for special medical purpose, specialty food containing plant or botanicals, food containing probiotics, food containing prebiotics, as well as novel foods and details requirements related to composition, claims, labeling, etc. for each specific category.
This regulation also details the provisions pertaining to vitamins, minerals, botanical ingredients, food additives, probiotics and prebiotics, etc. Meanwhile, 400 ingredients of plant or botanical origin are listed, which can be used as ingredients in the food categories covered in this regulation.
As this is the first legislation regarding health supplements and nutraceuticals in India, it will have a significant impact on the domestic market as well as overseas exporters aiming to enter the health supplement and nutraceutical market in India.
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