Pawan Kumar Agarwal, CEO, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) while addressing the delegates, commented that FSSAI is committed to make robust and unambiguous standards for food supplements with the help of Industry. He was attending a seminar on Nutraceuticals – Seizing Growth Opportunities under Changing Economic & Regulatory Landscape at Delhi which was organised by Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).
He also urged food processing industry players to work with FSSAI on developing good manufacturing practices document and adoption of it, for overcoming challenges of spurious and dubious products flooding the Indian markets. Agarwal also mentioned that FSSAI is working with Central Drug Regulator to make clear distinction between drug and food, which will clear a lot of ambiguity present among the stakeholders.
The other speakers in the inaugural session included Dr. B. Sesikeran, Chairman, Scientific Panel on Functional foods, Nutraceuticals, Dietetic products and other similar products, FSSAI, Dr. A K Sharma, Consultant, FSSAI; Sanjaya Mariwala, Chairman, FICCI Task Force on Nutraceuticals & Managing Director & CEO, OmniActive Health Technologies Ltd; Sandeep Ahuja, Chairman, FICCI – Wellness Committee & Executive Director, VLCC Healthcare Ltd and Dr. A Didar Singh, Secretary General, FICCI.
Dr. A Didar Singh while welcoming the delegates emphasized the need for having standards for food products and how FICCI can collaboratively work with FSSAI to further expand the scope of standards beyond the current standards.
Sanjaya Mariwala highlighted the growth opportunities in Nutraceuticals and its contribution to Make in India initiative. He also invite industry member to work collaboratively on matters related to GST.