The sweets and snacks products (traditional sweets) for which the standards have not been prescribed fall under the category of “proprietary food.”
These products should comply with the regulatory provisions like FSS (Contaminants, Toxins & Residues) Regulations, 2011, and Table 2 of Appendix A and Appendix B of Food Safety and Standards (FSS) (Food Product Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011. Codex has prescribed some standards for sweets and snacks under Table 2 of General Standards for Food Additive (GSFA).
Sweets and snack products are required to comply with the above-mentioned Regulations. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has initiated the process of revision / harmonisation of standards for food products with those of Codex and other international best practices and to develop new standards in respect of those food products where there is a need to develop standards taking into account the Codex and other international best practices.
Export promotion of Indian traditional sweets and snack products is looked after by the Agriculture and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority, under the ministry of commerce, the products have to comply with the standards of the importing countries.
This information was given by minister of state for health & family welfare Abu Hasem Khan Choudhury in written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha on Friday.
