Chalks down general requirements on Ayurveda Aahar
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has invited suggestions/observations regarding Food Safety and Standards (Ayurveda Aahar) Regulations, 2021. In a notice, FSSAI mentioned that the draft regulations shall be taken into consideration after the expiry of a period of 60 days from the date on which copies of the Gazette of India in which the notification is published are made available to the public. It has invited objections or suggestions, which may be received from any person concerning the said draft regulations before the expiry of the period specified.
Ayurveda Aahar means food prepared under the recipes or ingredients and/or processes as per methods described in the authoritative books of Ayurveda listed under ‘Schedule A’ of these regulations.
Any packed food item used in day to day life for the dietary purpose such as pulses, rice, flour, vegetable without the addition of Ayurveda Aahar ingredient(s) shall not be covered under these regulations.
The general requirements in the regulation mention that no person shall manufacture or sell Ayurveda Aahar intended for administration to infants up to the age of 24 months. The manufacture of Ayurveda Aahar shall be established by Food Business Operators (FBOs) under Schedule 4 of Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulation, 2011. FBOs may add or alter the recipes of Ayurveda Aahar by addition of one or more botanicals listed in ‘schedule IV’ of Food Safety and Standards (Health Supplements, Nutraceuticals, Food for Special Dietary Use, Food for Special Medical Purpose, Functional Food and Novel Food) Regulations, 2016 subject to the following.
Such addition shall be based on adequate scientific rationale and as per Ayurvedic principles including for their levels of usage. Such addition shall be demonstrable for its presence in the final formulation by suitable analytical techniques. The addition of vitamins, minerals and amino acids to Ayurveda Aahar shall not be permitted. However, natural vitamins and minerals if present in the Ayurveda Aahar may be declared on the label. FBOs shall formulate Ayurveda Aahar under the categories and requirements specified in Schedule B of these regulations.