Due to the delay in giving product approvals, industry was facing problems. The rejection of product approvals were mounting and the industry wanted faster decisions on the applications.
Chapter 4, section 22 pertaining to Nutraceuticals, Functional Foods, Dietary Supplements was not gazetted for four years even after it was submitted to the government by the scientific panel. As a result the industry approached the Ministry for Heath and Family Welfare, Govt. of India, and Chairman, FSSAI, and demanded to revisit product approval system for expediting applications clearances.
The government appointed a High Level Committee (HLC) under the chairmanship of Dr V. Prakash, Distinguished Scientist of CSIR, comprising of representatives of industry, consumer organisations, leading scientists and FDA commissioners from some states.
It is learnt that that the committee, which met number of times, has submitted its report to the government recommending very radicle changes in product approval process. NuFFooDS Spectrum learnt this news from its sources in Delhi just before the issue was to go in print.