Comply and sustain,innovate and grow or ignore and perish, that’s key

Armed with a vision for India’s food safety and nutrition ecosystem by 2030, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has been pivotal. The FSSAI also plans to further strengthen regulatory frameworks to support the rapid growth of nutraceuticals, functional foods, and fortified products. Besides, it plans to address evolving challenges in food safety, particularly with the rise of novel foods, plant-based alternatives, and personalised nutrition. Pritee Chaudhary, Regional Director, FSSAI, West Region, Mumbai elaborates on the future initiatives and steps being taken to strengthen consumer awareness and trust. Edited excerpts:

What’s your vision for India’s food safety and nutrition ecosystem by 2030?

To ensure safe, healthy and wholesome food for everyone, is the vision. We are building a strong network to achieve this objective. Everyone is contributing towards this in a unique way. The officers in the field are ensuring that greater compliance levels can be achieved. Capacity Building for the labs is another important agenda to ensure the above objective, as they are
keepers of the safe food. At the same time, stakeholders are being engaged in active compliance seeking.

How does FSSAI plan to further strengthen regulatory frameworks to support the rapid growth of nutraceuticals, functional foods, and fortified products?
FSSAI has been among the few regulators globally to proactively establish a comprehensive framework for nutraceuticals, functional foods, and fortified products in a very advanced stage. The important fact to note here is that all regulations have come into existence after thorough deliberation in scientific panels and scientific committees and dialogue with trade and business. This feature not only ensures better compliance but also strengthens it.

The Food Safety and Standards (Nutra) 2022 Regulations provide a clear and science-based foundation for this rapidly evolving sector. Additionally, fortified foods are governed through dedicated provisions in the Food Safety and Standards (Fortification of Foods) Regulations, ensuring nutritional enhancement aligns with national health priorities. For novel products
and ingredients, FSSAI has established a transparent, technology-driven approval mechanism via the ePAAS portal, as per the Food Safety and Standards (Approval for Non-Specific Food and Food Ingredients) Regulations, 2017.

Moving forward, the focus will be on continual stakeholder engagement, alignment with global best practices, and leveraging scientific risk assessment to keep pace with innovation while ensuring consumer safety and trust.

What key policy or regulatory reforms do you foresee being critical to enhance India’s global competitiveness in the food industry?
While exports are managed by other agencies, FSSAI plays a critical role in enhancing India’s global competitiveness through its mandate of ensuring safe, nutritious, and quality food in the domestic market. Strong domestic standards and compliance frameworks naturally create a foundation for international trust in Indian food products.

How is FSSAI planning to address evolving challenges in food safety, particularly with the rise of novel foods, plant-based alternatives, and personalised nutrition?

FSSAI is recognised globally as a proactive and science-driven regulatory authority. We already have a robust framework for novel foods, as discussed in the previous paragraph. The trend of plant-based alternatives is also on the rise due to growing
environmental concerns, health benefits of the plant source and sometimes moral concerns for a segment of the population. The current regulations are very accommodating to plant-based proteins. And depending on formulations, they are placed under standards or proprietary.

Similarly, to integrate traditional wisdom with modern science, the Food Safety and Standards (Ayurveda Aahara) Regulations, 2022, were introduced, providing clarity and direction for industry growth while safeguarding consumer interests. It also gives a brand as “Ayurveda Aahara” in the global market instead of vague identities as natural/herbal etc.

While the term ‘personalised nutrition’ is not yet defined under the FSS Act, 2006, it represents an exciting and emerging area. Going forward, FSSAI can explore incorporating definitions, standards, and conditions for such products, possibly within the Food Safety and Standards (Advertising and Claims) Regulations, 2018, ensuring continued innovation in a safe and transparent manner.

With technology rapidly changing the food industry, how is FSSAI preparing for regulatory oversight of innovations such as lab-grown foods, AI-driven quality checks, and blockchain-based traceability?

FSSAI is a science-based regulatory authority, and we closely monitor global developments in the food sector to ensure our regulatory frameworks remain future-ready. For innovations such as lab-grown foods and other novel food categories, we already have a robust framework in place through the Food Safety and Standards (Approval for Non-Specific Food and Food Ingredients) Regulations, 2017, ensuring safety assessment and approval before such products reach consumers. Whereas, if the industry comes up with a specific demand on the Regulation by laying down standards, the same can also be taken up.
For AI-driven quality checks, FSSAI is well-positioned, as most of the operations are system driven in the Authority. A basic algorithm is in place at the import of food by risk management systems, from the years together in collaboration with Indian Customs. However, modern-day AI-driven platforms are being explored. The utility of the new technique is well understood and the same can not be said as regulatory oversight.

How does FSSAI plan to support MSMEs and startups in navigating compliance while encouraging innovation?
FSSAI is fully aligned with the Government of India’s Ease of Doing Business vision, and we have implemented several measures to simplify compliance for MSMEs and startups while encouraging innovation. Initiatives such as Express Annual Return filing, Tatkal Licensing, capping of penalties for delayed annual returns, renewal of expired licenses, the Food Safety Mitra programme, and the FoSCoS Help Line have made processes faster andmore accessible.

We also maintain an open-door policy with prior appointments; entrepreneurs can directly approach FSSAI offices to clarify regulatory queries. Capacity building remains a priority. Through our flagship FoSTaC training platform, we have launched a self-paced module specifically for startups, covering food safety, regulatory, and hygiene requirements. Additionally, through ITCFSAN in Mumbai, FSSAI conducts a range of online and offline programmes tailored for MSMEs, focusing on compliance, good manufacturing practices, and industry-specific food safety needs.

This combined approach ensures that MSMEs and startups can innovate confidently while maintaining high standards of food safety and consumer trust. What would be your message to the industry?
I firmly believe in the timeless saying, “The future depends entirely on what we do today.” For the industry, this means one clear truth — comply and sustain, innovate and grow or ignore and perish.