The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has set 12,000 standards for food additives and ingredients, in a move to ease food products approval process in the country.
The move, which follows the recent Maggi food scare, will strengthen the quality standards for food products.
The new standards comply with global safety standards Codex Alimentarius Commission, established by the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organisation and World Health Organisation, The Press Trust of India (PTI) reported.
The food companies meeting these standards will not have to seek approval from FSSAI for their products.
FSSAI has fixed permissible levels of additives to be used in various food products in order to ensure safe amount of consumption. The agency has also set certain standards for the use of ingredients in the manufacturing of processed food items.
Health Ministry senior official said: "FSSAI has approved 12,000 standards for food additives and ingredients.
"The Law Ministry is vetting the standards and a notification will be issued soon."
Of the existing 375 FSSAI safety standards for food items, none of them are for food additives and ingredients.
