FSSAI seeks comments on amendments in existing standards of Coffee, Packaged Drinking Water, Milk and Milk Products

New Delhi, Apr 27 (KNN) The Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has sought comments from WTO-SPS members on amendment in existing standards of Coffee and packaged drinking water and also on amendment in existing standards of Milk and Milk Products.

FSSAI, the food watchdog, has sought suggestions, views, comments etc from WTO- SPS Committee members within a period of 60 days on the draft notification related to revised standards for Coffee-chicory mix and TDS (limits of Ca & Mg content) in Packaged drinking water as well as standards for Decaffeinated roasted and ground coffee and Decaffeinated soluble coffee powder.

After the amendment new clauses have been added to the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011.

On Coffee, it has added many clauses including that Decaffeinated-Roasted and Ground Coffee shall be free from artificial colouring, flavouring, facing, extraneous matter or glazing substances and shall be in dry and fresh condition, free from rancid or obnoxious flavours.

It says Decaffeinated Coffee means, the dried seeds of Coffea arabica, Coffea liberica, Coffea excelsa or Coffea canephora (Robusta) or with their husks (mesocarp and endocarp) removed and decaffeinated to remove nearly all the caffeine from the beans. Decaffeination is carried out while the beans are in green form, before they are roasted.

Also, suggestions, views, comments etc have also been sought from WTO- SPS Committee members within a period of 60 days on the draft notification related to revised standards for Goat/Sheep Milk, total sodium content in milk and milk powders and standards of some new milk products viz. Medium fat chhana/paneer, Whey cheeses, Cheeses in brine.

The amendments in the regulations include that total sodium content in the milk powder shall not be more than 650 mg/ 100 gm.

It also adds that Low Fat Chhana’/‘Medium Fat Chhana’ and ‘Low Fat Paneer’/‘Medium Fat Paneer’ shall be sold in sealed package only and shall bear the following label declarations depending upon the respective product composition: “Low Fat Paneer or  Low fat Chhana” Or “Medium Fat Paneer or Medium Fat Chhana.”

The objections or suggestions have to be mailed to spstbt.enqpt@fssai.gov.in within 60 days from the date of notification in WTO. (KNN Bureau)