New Delhi, Jan 22 (KNN) Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has asked state governments and Union Territories (UT) to deal with the cases involving minor labelling defects not posing any food safety concern under section 32 of FSS Act, 2006.

''A list of labelling defects categorised into exceptions (minor labelling defects of insignificant nature and without any food safety concern) and Mandatory cases (against which adjudication action would be taken) is annexed,'' said FSSAI in a letter dated January 17th  2020.

''States and Union territories are, therefore advised to issue necessary instructions to the state DOs and FSOs to deal with the cases involving minor labelling defects not posing  any food safety concern under section 32 of FSS Act, 2006, under intimation to this office,'' the letter further read.

Earlier, through a letter issued on 17 July, 2018, to the Commissioners of Food Safety in all the States and Union Territories, the FSSAI has clarified what process food safety authorities must follow if they perceive a need for rectifying minor labelling defects on food products.

FSSAI has issued the letter because it has come to its notice that the food safety authorities in some states have initiated adjudication proceedings against some FBOs for insignificant labelling defects. Such labelling defects can easily be rectified by following the process as has been given under Scheme 32 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

The FSSAI letter also states that resorting to adjudication proceedings in such cases, which are of insignificant nature, causes harassment to the FBOs and wastes the scare resources of the enforcement machinery in the states and UTs. Such resources could be utilised more meaningfully, for instance, in ensuring safe and nutritious food to the citizens.

The FSSAI has advised the State and UT enforcement agencies to take action under Section 32 of the FSS Act in cases of minor labelling defects that do not jeopardise food safety.

---------------------