The draft regulation also specifies the compositional/identity standards of the infant nutrition products
FSSAI has notified a draft regulation for infant nutrition called the Food Safety Standards (Food for Infant Nutrition) Regulations 2019, having comprehensive regulations to supersede the provisions related to the food for infant nutrition in Sub-regulations 2.1.9 of the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products and Food Additive) Regulations, 2011.
This draft contains standards for infant formula for special medical purpose, specifically food for infants with inborn errors in metabolism (IEM).
IEM is a life-threatening special medical condition affecting thousands of infants in the country, and without these specialised diets, children suffering from IEM would not only face cognitive and physical difficulties, but in fact would not even survive.
The proposed regulations also contains standards for premature infant milk substitutes, lactose-free, lactose- and sucrose-free infant milk substitutes, sucrose-free infant milk substitutes, hypoallergenic infant milk substitutes under the infant formula for special medical purposes and food for infants based on traditional food ingredients.
The notification also clarified that food for special purposes is a separate category of food for infant nutrition, and the requirement of the Infant Milk Substitute, Feeding Bottles, And Infant Foods (Regulations Of Production, Supply And Distribution) Act, 1992, as amended in 2003 (IMS Act) would henceforth apply to these products, also except the requirement of labelling mother’s milk is best for your baby, where breastfeeding is contraindicated on medical grounds for the diseases, disorders or medical conditions.
The draft regulation also specifies the compositional/identity standards of the infant nutrition products and also specifies the source of the permitted ingredients.
The stakeholders can also submit their comments to FSSAI on the draft till June 14, 2019.