FSSAI committed to robust and unambiguous standards for food supplements

Pawan Kumar Agarwal, Chief Executive Officer of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) said on 23 June 2017 that the FSSAI is committed to ensuring robust and unambiguous standards for food supplements with the help of industry.

Addressing a FICCI seminar on Nutraceuticals - Seizing Growth Opportunities under Changing Economic and Regulatory Landscape held here today, Agarwal urged food processing industry players to work with the FSSAI on developing good manufacturing practices, document and adoption of it for overcoming challenges of spurious and dubious products flooding Indian markets.

Agarwal also mentioned that FSSAI is working with the central drug regulator to make a 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; Mr. Sanjaya Mariwala, Chairman, FICCI Task Force on Nutraceuticals and Managing Director and CEO, OmniActive Health Technologies Ltd; Mr. Sandeep Ahuja, Chairman, FICCI - Wellness Committee and Executive Director, VLCC Healthcare Ltd and Dr. A Didar Singh, Secretary General, FICCI.

Dr. A Didar Singh 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.

The seminar was attended by about 100 participants from the nutraceuticals industry.

-ANI