Key developments:
News updates:
FSSAI Maggi call may drive away funds: Dilip Shanghvi, MD, Sun Pharma, ET Bureau, Economic Times – 31 July 2015
Dilip Shanghvi, founder and managing director of India's largest drug maker Sun PharmaBSE 0.13 %, on Thursday criticised the national food regulator's decision to ban Nestle's Maggi instant noodles, saying such arbitrary' decisions could drive away investments from the country.
FSSAI had on June 5 banned Maggi noodles, claiming that the popular instant snack contained lead beyond permissible limit.
This led to the world's largest food company reporting its first loss in three decades in the quarter ended June.
Non-Defining of Junk Food Under Food Safety Act, Business Standard – 31 July 2015
At present, there is no proposal under consideration of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to define junk food under the FSS Act.
However, guidelines for making available Wholesome, Nutritious, Safe and Hygienic Food to School children in the country have been framed by the Central Advisory Committee, FSSAI.
The National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), ICMR has not conducted a study on junk food. A study had, however, been conducted by NIN to
assess ill-effects of consumption of Carbonated Water beverages (CWBs) on the health of adolescents and young Adults, which showed higher increments of body fat in young consumers.
The MoS, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Shri Shripad Yesso Naik stated this in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha here today.
Tata Starbucks, Kelloggs, McCain fail to get FSSAI approval, PTI, Money control – 31 July, 2015
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has rejected product approval applications of Tata Starbucks, Kellogg's and McCain due to lack of sufficient supporting documents for safety assessment, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Thursday.
While 34 products of Tata Starbucks have been rejected which included honey vanilla flavoured syrup, sea salt and red bean sauce, two products of Kelloggs including Kellogg's special K Red Berries and Kellogg's special K Oats and Honey have been rejected.
The Minister said that the primary responsibility of FSSAI is to lay down science based food standards, make regulations, regulate imports and undertake coordination with states and UTs on food safety.
Cabinet approves new Consumer Protection Bill that seeks to replace 29-year-old law, PTI, First Post – 30 July 2015
The Cabinet on Wednesday approved a new Consumer Protection Bill 2015 that seeks to replace a 29-year-old law
It provides a comprehensive framework for protection of consumer interests, and will replace the Consumer Protection Act, 1986
The Bill proposes to set up a regulatory authority that will have powers to recall products and initiate class action suits against defaulting companies, including on-line retailer
Nestlé case should be dismissed: Maharashtra FDA, Sapna Agarwal, Mint – 30 July 2015
Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has asked the Court to dismiss Nestlé India’s
June 10 petition, as the company had suppressed facts in its petition
Authorities had provided Nestlé India the test reports on 5 June along with a letter that told the company that it could ask for the test to be done again at an accredited laboratory
The company failed to mention these facts in its petition, according to the FDA counsel
FSSAI to set rules for watching health supplements, TNN, The Times of India – 30 July 2015
The FSSAI is soon going to regulate health supplements, as it has been observed that nearly 60-70 per cent of such products in the market are spurious, according to coverage from Indore
Currently, there are no regulatory norms for approval or monitoring of dietary supplements, neutraceuticals, herbals and functional food, but the FSSAI has proposed draft regulations that will come into effect in a few months
Neutraceuticals are categorized into functional food/beverages and dietary supplements
Manish Swami, a food safety officer in Indore, has said that with proper regulation guidelines, unregistered and unapproved products can be blocked and discarded
FORTUNE COOKIE: FSSAI gets tough with restaurants , Sourish Bhattacharyya, Mail Online India – 30 July 2015
Hotels and restaurants will soon have to set up departments devoted to FSSAI matters, and also dispose all ingredients considered unpalatable by the agency
What is at stake here is the right of every human being to choose what he or she eats without being told what to do by state-appointed authorities
Amit Lohani, Forum of Indian Food Importers, cited several examples of the agency’s arbitrary standards
Maggi row: Nestle violated laws, alleges Maharashtra FDA, PTI, DNA, The Hindu, Mint–29 July 2015
The Food and Drugs Administration of Maharashtra on Tuesday told the Bombay High Court that Nestle India violated laws as the lead level in Maggi was above the permissible limit
The counsel for the FDA also said that if there was a problem with the FDA report of lab tests showing lead in Maggi, Nestle India could have directly told the FDA, which could have sent samples for testing labs to accredited labs, instead of challenging FDA’s authority
The arguments would continue tomorrow by the counsel for the FDA and would take up the question with regard to why all nine variants of Maggi were banned when the FDA had only tested two variants of Maggi
Maggi Ban: Did info on the web influence your decision, HC asks FSSAI,Express News Service, The Indian Express –29 July 2015
On Tuesday, the Bombay High Court asked the FSSAI if it was influenced by information on the internet while ordering a ban on Maggi noodles
This observation was made in the wake of FSSAI citing examples of criticism of Maggi noodles, which were downloaded from internet
Cabinet to clear stricter consumer protection bill, Dipak K Dash, The Times of India – 29 July 2015
Cabinet is likely to clear the Consumer Protection Bill on Wednesday with provisions to make manufacturers and service providers liable for their products and services
It will also set up an authority with power to look into complaints, investigate and even order recall of unsafe products and order compensation to buyers
Nestle Q2 profit, revenue may fall on Maggi noodles ban, CNBC-TV18, Moneycontrol – 29 July 2015
Nestle India is expected to report a subdued performance in June quarter due to Maggi noodles ban
Last two months have been extremely difficult for Nestle owing to Maggi noodles controversy
Analysts see hit of Rs 120 crore towards disposal of Maggi noodles inventory as one-time loss
Ashish Bahuguna appointed as new FSSAI chairman, Shambhavi Anand, The Economic Times – 28 July 2015
The former Agriculture Secretary, Ashish Bahuguna, has been appointed as the chairman of the FSSAI, a position that has a tenure of three years
Bhanu Pratap Sharma, Secretary of Health and Family Welfare, was temporarily holding the position
2,700 reports say lead content within limit, Nestle tells HC, HT Correspondent, The Hindustan Times -28 July 2015
In the Bombay High Court hearing, Nestle India’s counsel stated that it has shared the entire process of recalling Maggi with the FSSAI and added that the company has 2,700 reports to state that lead content is under the permissible level
The Bombay High Court observed that as long as the product is within the permissible lead limit, the FSSAI cannot say that there has been any violation
The Court told the FSSAI’s counsel that if the company is still selling and manufacturing the product despite the ban, the FSSAI is free to take coercive action against Nestle India by giving the company a 72-hour notice
The counsel for the FSSAI has concluded his arguments and the counsel for the state and Food Drug Administration will state his
arguments today
Tough road ahead for Nestle India's MD-designate, Arnab Dutta, Business Standard – 28 July 2015
In an analysis piece, the journalist makes a point that the new Nestle India’s MD has a bigger task of propping up growth rates in the coming quarters and is expected to focus on Nestle India’s pipeline of products
The journalist has quoted a Credit Suisse report on Nestle business, which said that a large number of Nestlé’s global products had no relevance in India
The report had noted that the India business needs strong innovation in the dairy, instant noodles and chocolate categories, which
has been lacking from the parent company
New Nestlé India Head Looks to Rebuild Brand’s Reputation, The Wall Street Journal – 27 July 2015
The newly appointed Managing Director has said that he will focus on using advertising and social media, as well as the courts, to try to repair the damage done to its reputation by a recent food scare in India
He also plans to reach out to company stakeholders, including workers that held positions as suppliers and distributors who were left unemployed on the heels of the Maggi controversy
Analysts feel that an Indian-origin head of the company will be able to communicate more effectively with the government regulators
Maggi is safe, confident of resolving crisis & bringing it back on shelves: Suresh Narayanan & Ling Martello, Nestle by Ratna Bhushan & Chaitali Chakravarty, The Economic Times – 27 July 2015
As per media reports, Wan Ling Martello, Executive Vice President at Nestle SA is in Delhi to oversee the transition in India of the newly appointed Managing Director of Nestle India
In an interview to The Economic Times, Martello said that as the recall process comes to a close, Nestle India is looking at plans that involve rebuilding, including plans of new product ranges
Both Martello and the new MD has assured that there will be 100 per cent engagement with the FSSAI with talks with government in order to bring Maggi back
Food safety: Is your food killing you?, Elita Enoch,The Hans India – 27 July 2015
In an opinion article, Elita Enoch, covers the challenges to food safety in India and highlights the common adulterants in food
She also talks about simple ways to detect adulterants in food and asserts some tips to ensure food safety
Food packaging norms to stay, India tells US, Asit Ranjan Mishra, Mint – 27 July 2015
India has ruled out any change in its labelling or packaging for imports of American food items into India
US had requested for printing of the maximum retail price (MRP) and category of food item on the packet rather than putting on a sticker at the port
An Indian official speaking on the condition of anonymity has said that the exporting country has to abide by the laws of the importing country
The matter was discussed between Deputy US Trade Representative Robert Holleyman and India’s Commerce Secretary Rita Teaotia
when they met on Tuesday to discuss the agenda for the next round of ministerial-level meetings of the Trade Policy Forum (TPF) in the US
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