What is FSSAI Product and Ingredient Approval

Summary

In this article, we will discuss how product approval is important and how it is obtained before starting a packaged food business in India.

What is FSSAI Product Approval

Product approval is a wide-ranging authentication to make the food products that are traded in India as per FSSAI rules. FSSAI is the main governing body and the apex authority responsible for issuing approval for food products on the market. As we all know food safety is imperious and this is the reason it has become a major global alarm. Thus, the concerned authority is taking prior measures to decrease the risk involved in food safety. Food products which contain ingredients or any type of additives, enzymes, processing aids, microorganisms that do not comply with FSSAI set standards and regulations are required to apply for product approval FSSAI. It is granted on behalf of the central government of India to be sure that the food products are completely safe for consumption. The concerned authorities are focusing on delivery of good quality, wholesome and safe food to the customers.

When is the FSSAI product approval important?

The implementation of Food Safety and Standard regulations has made it mandatory for the food business operators to get a valid FSSAI registration and FSSAI Central License before commencing food business. License can be obtained only when all the products are approved or self-compliant as per FSSAI regulations. The product approval is needed before making the food available in the market for the use of consumers. The food business operator should have well-defined knowledge on all the needs of product approval as it plays a very important role in the product positioning with the manufacturer having no problem with the concerned authority.

A product which contains all ingredients listed in already mentioned in FSSAI rules and regulations doesn’t require product approval. When a product contains ingredients that are not mentioned in the rules and regulations, it requires product approval from FSSAI before being introduced to the market. Therefore, FSSAI product approval is vital that helps in flawless product manufacture and assists in easy marketing. In short, we can say product approval is required in order to regulates such products including novel food and provide the opportunity to Food Business Operators to innovate food products, and following are the summary of the same

• The product is completely new (novel) or processed with the use of novel technology.
• New additives not listed in FSSAI regulations
• New processing aids including enzymes not listed in FSSAI regulations
• Articles of food and food ingredients consisting of or isolated from microorganisms, bacteria, yeast, fungi or algae.
• And for any other non-specified food

What information is required for obtaining an approval

Certain information is required for obtaining an product approval like name and address of the food business, phone, email, manufacturer address, business type, origin of the product, claim detail, market existence, product manufacturing method, package size, products shelf life, details about the ingredient present in the product, details about serving, stability data sheet, end-use declaration document, and lab certificate of product test analysis.

What is the need of obtaining the license for filing approval?

The food business operator is required to apply for product approval along with the required documents. FSSAI License is also required for the company for filing the said product or ingredient approval FSSAI. This makes the process of identification of company filing the product approval a little easy. It is mandatory for the business operator to make a food label that complies with the FSSAI set rules and guidelines before applying for product approval and he is also required to deposit the product label design. Then it's time for making the payment of fees after which all documents are scrutinized properly by the concerned department and a referral to the scientific panel is made if required.

Author Bio: The author is an experienced individual with a firm knowledge of the various processes involved in the food business.