FSSAI Finalises Regulations For Vegan Food In India, Here’s What It Means For Indian Businesses

6th July 2022

With the demand for vegan products on the rise in India and around the world, it became necessary to determine the parameters of vegan food. 

Keeping this in mind, the Food Standards Safety Association of India (FSSAI) had prepared draft rules for labeling foods as 'vegan' in September 2021. The FSSAI also introduced an official vegan logo to be used by manufacturers of foods that classify as vegan.

Furthermore, the Food Safety and Standards (Vegan Foods) Regulations, 2022 have specified the type of packaging necessary for it.

The FSSAI announced regulations and the government said that food business operators must ensure compliance.

NO ANIMAL TESTING OR ANIMAL-ORIGIN PRODUCTS WOULD BE ACCEPTED

The government revealed that “vegan food" would be any food ingredients and even additives, flavourings, enzymes that are devoid of elements of animal origin.

They further stated, “No person shall manufacture, pack, sell, offer for sale, market or otherwise distribute or import any food as vegan food unless they comply with the requirements laid down under these regulations.

The food products to be called vegan, shall not have involved animal testing for any purpose including safety evaluation unless provided by any Regulatory Authority."

APART FROM PRODUCTION, THEY WILL KEEP AN EYE ON PACKAGING TOO

“We are also ensuring that every packaging material used for vegan foods shall comply with the provisions of the packaging regulations and the Food Business Operator (FBO) shall ensure that all stages of production, processing and distribution shall be designed to take the appropriate precautions in conformity with the Good Manufacturing Practices in such a way to avoid the unintended presence of non-vegan substances," they concluded.

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR INDIAN FOOD OPERATORS

Food Business Operators in the country must comply with requirements laid down by FSSAI if they wish to get approval for the vegan logo.

In fact, in case the business happens to be using the same production line for making non-vegan products, as they use for vegan items; then they must ensure proper cleaning standards in conformity with the Good Manufacturing Practices before the vegan products are produced on the same production line.

Furthermore, the import of vegan products will be halted unless it comes with a certificate by the authorities of the country that is exporting it to check that they have followed the format specified by the authorities.

Like this? Read: FSSAI Introduces Vegan Logo For Food Products In India

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