Page 34 - Plastcs News January 2019

FeAtures

have to comply with these regulations by 1 July, 2019. The
stakeholder’s consultation and mass awareness building
amongst consumers and food businesses would precede
implementation of the new packaging regulations.”

Earlier in 2018, FSSAI had proposed draft rules of
advertisements for food products that would bar food
companies, restaurants and hotels from putting up ads
that are “against” healthy lifestyles or portray packaged
food as a complete replacement for a normal meal food
businesses cannot use words as “natural”, “fresh”,
“premium”, “finest, “best”, “authentic”, “genuine”,
Taking cognizance of the carcinogenic effect of inks and “real” on food labels except under specific conditions.
dyes, these regulations also prohibits the use of newspaper “Any person, including a third party, who advertises or is a
and such other materials for packing or wrapping of party to the publication of any misleading advertisement
food articles and includes respective Indian standard for not complying with these regulations, would be penalised
printing inks for use on food packages. with a fine extending upto Rs 10 lakh under Section 53
Pawan Agarwal, CEO, FSSAI, said, “The new packaging of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006,” the draft
regulations would raise the bar of food safety in India to the norms say. Auccording to the FSSAI the proposed rules are
next level. There would be difficulties in implementation aimed at protecting consumer interests and help them
of these regulations particularly as far as they relate to make informed choices. The guidelines also stipulate that
the loose packaging materials and to the unorganised the claims must be truthful, unambiguous, meaningful,
not misleading and help consumers to comprehend the
sector. Thus, sufficient lead time has been given before information provided”.
the regulations come into force. The food businesses shall

Plastics News Januar y 2019 34