India Updates the Maximum Contaminant Levels in Food

On Aug. 19, 2020, India FSSAI announced the first amendment to “Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues) Regulations" with the maximum residue limits of heavy metal and mycotoxin amounts in food being updated. The revision came into force from the date of promulgation and food business operators were given a grace period until Jul. 1^st, 2021.

The heavy metals included for change were Lead, Copper, Arsenic, Tin, Cadmium, Mercury, Methyl Mercury (calculated as the element), Chromium, Nickel, Selenium and Antimony. The products subject to the adjustments involved infant food, canned vegetable, dairy products, oil products, wine, food additives, and water etc.

The mycotoxin level updated this time included Total Aflatoxins, Aflatoxin B1, Aflatoxin M1, Ochratoxin A, Patulin, and Deoxynivalenol. The products involved were mainly agricultural products, such as cereal and cereal products, nuts, oilseeds, milk and wheat.

Please click here to check the maximum levels of the contaminants mentioned above for their corresponding food products (English version starts from pg.18).