To ensure food safety, the Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) has mandated the declaration of manufacturing date for domestic and imported crude oil (eligible grade) while the declaration of expiry date has been made a voluntary choice.
In a notification, FSSAI said “It has been decided that while declaration of expiry date on crude oil could be done on voluntary basis, the manufacturing date shall be mandatory for domestic and imported crude oil (eligible grade) to ensure food safety as crude oils could be stored for indefinite time and there is possibility of secondary oxidation and contamination of oil.”
On this matter, FSSAI has received representations from various stakeholders for exemption from declaring the date of manufacturing and expiry on crude oil (eligible grade) as crude oil is not meant for human consumption. It becomes fit for human consumption only after further refining.
The representatives said that the industry is already adhering to packaging and labeling requirements including manufacturing and best before date whenever such crude oil gets refined and becomes fit for human consumption.
After examining the entire matter, FSSAI decided to make the declaration of manufacturing date mandatory for domestic and imported crude oil (eligible grade) leaving declaration of expiry date a voluntary choice.