FSSAI(The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India ) has notified regulations for the Ayurveda Aahara segment after public consultations, a move that will bring regulatory clarity for food products based on Ayurveda-prescribed recipes such as herbal nutritional supplements.
This is the first time that regulations have been brought in for the Ayurveda Aahara segment in the country. Such food products are prepared in accordance with the recipes, ingredients, and processes described in authoritative Ayurveda classical texts, and the regulations, therefore, cover foods specified for consumption in accordance with pathya or Ayurvedic dietetics.
The regulations, which prescribe labeling and permissible additives standards for Ayurveda Aahara, stated that it will be mandatory for manufacturers of these products to display an “Ayurveda Aahara” logo and warning advisory stating “only for dietary use” on the labels.
The regulations also prevent makers of such products from making any claims regarding the treatment or cure of diseases. “The labeling, presentation, and advertisement shall not claim that the Ayurveda Aahara has the property of preventing, treating or curing a human disease or refer to such properties,” the regulations added.
To be able to make “disease-risk reduction” claims, manufacturers will need to take “evidence-based prior approvals” from the food safety authority. For health benefit claims, prior approvals will not be required if such claims are backed by authoritative Ayurveda books, the regulations stated.
Every label of Ayurveda Aahara product will also need to mandatorily specify the intended purpose, the target consumer group, and recommended duration of use on the labels. “No person shall manufacture or sell Ayurveda Aahara intended for administration to infants up to the age of 24 months,” the regulations added.
An expert committee will be constituted under the Ministry of Ayush comprising relevant experts, including FSSAI representatives for providing recommendations on the approval of claims in this segment and to address any issues regarding registration, licensing, certification, laboratory accreditation, testing or quality of Ayurveda Aahara products.
FSSAI has clarified that Ayurvedic drugs or medicines listed under Schedule E-1 of the Drug and Cosmetics Act, 1940, and the Drug and Cosmetics Rules do not fall under the Food Safety and Standards (Ayurveda Aahara) Regulations, 2022.
reference-The Hindu
