A. Introduction
The extracts from the prevention of food adulteration act, 1954 give the detail requirements of labelling of food products. More material is available in <FOOD_GUIDELINES> <FOOD_REGULATIONS><LABELNG_MARKG_FOOD_INFANT>
B. Extracts from Prevention of Food Adulteration Act. 1954
Package of food to
carry a label and unless otherwise provided in these rules, there shall be
specified on every label: -
(a) the name trade
name or description of food contained in the package;
Provided that the
name, trade name or the description of food given on the package of food shall
not include the name of any food or ingredient prefixed or suffixed to it, if
such food ingredient is not the main ingredient of the final food product.
(b) the names of
ingredients used in the product in descending order of their composition by
weight or volume as the case may be.
Provided that in
the case of artificial flavouring substances, the label may not declare the
chemical names of the flavours, but in the case of natural flavouring
substances or nature-identical flavouring substances, the common name of
flavours shall be mentioned on the label.
Provided also that
whenever Gelatine is used as an ingredient, a declaration to this effect shall
be made on the label by inserting the word "Gelatine-Animal origin."
In case of
packages of confectionery weighing 20 gm. Or less, which are also exempted from
the declaration of ingredients, will be exempted from the declaration of
"Animal Origin" even if it contains Gelatine provided that such
declaration shall be given on the multi piece package in such a manner that the
same is readable even without opening the package.
Note-A specific
name shall be used for ingredients in the list of ingredients except that-
i. for
substances falling in the respective classes, the following class titles may be
used, namely:-
"edible fats,
edible oils, spice and condiments, edible starches (except modified starches),
vitamin and minerals, salts. However in case of currency powder or mixed
masalas whole or other such masala containing spices, either whole or powdered
as major ingredient, the names of spices used in the product be mentioned on
the label in descending order of their composition by weight;"
ii.
for
substances falling in the respective classes and appearing in the list of food
additives permitted for use in foods generally, the following class titles may
be used, namely, antioxiagents, anticaking agents, flavour improvers
sequestering and buffering agents, bleaching agents, emulsifying and
stabilizing agents, antifoaming agents, preservatives, colours, flavours,
vitamins, minerals and edible gums;
Provided further
that when statement regarding addition of colours or flavours is displayed on
the label in accordance with rule 24 and rule 64BB respectively, addition of
such colours or flavours need not be mentioned in the list of ingredients:
Provided also that
in case both colour and flavour are used in the product, one of the following
combined statements in capital letters shall be displayed, just beneath the
list of ingredients on the label attached to any package of food so coloured
and flavoured, namely:-
i. Contains
permitted natural colour(s) and added flavour(s)
OR
ii. Contains
permitted synthetic food colour(s) and added flavour(s)
OR
iii. Contains
permitted natural and synthetic food colour(s) and added flavour(s)
OR
iv. Contains
permitted natural */ and* synthetic* colour(s) and added flavour(s)
(for the period up
to and inclusive of
Strike out
whichever is not applicable
Provided further
that whenever any article off food contains whole or part of any animal
including birds and fresh water or marine animals or eggs as an ingredient, a
declaration to this effect shall be made by a symbol and colour code so
stipulated for this purpose to indicate that the product is Non-vegetarian
Food. The symbol shall consist of a circle with a single chord passing through
its centre from top left hand side to the right diagonally as indicated below:-
The symbol shall
be displayed in prominent red colour on the package having contrast background
and shall have width of circumference equal to the width of the letters used in
the name or brand name of the product and diameter equal to the height of the
letters used for the name or brand name of the product. The symbol shall be
displayed just above the name or brand name of the product and approximately to
its centre and shall form an integral part of the name or brand name of any
article of Non-Vegetarian Food, to be indicated wherever the name or brand name
shall be displayed, including labels, containers as well as in pamphlets,
leaflets, advertisements in any media, etc.
The symbol and
colour code used to indicate nature of the food as Non-Vegetarian, shall be
published/ displayed extensively by the manufacturers, or packers or sellers,
so as to reach the entire population irrespective of their literacy status.
(c)the name and complete address of the
manufacturer or importer or vendor or packer;
(d)the net weight or number or measure of
volume of content, as the circumstances may require, except in the case of
biscuits, breads confectionery and sweets where the weight may be expressed in
terms of either average net weight or minimum net weight.
Note - In
declaring the net quantity of the commodity contained in the package, the
weight of the wrappers and material other than commodity shall be excluded.
Provided that where
a package contains a large number of small items of confectionery, each of
which is separately wrapped and it is not reasonably practicable to exclude
from the net weight of the commodity, the weight of such immediate wrappers of
all the items of the confectionery contained in the package, the net weight
declared on the package, containing such confectionery or on the label thereof
may include the weight of such immediate wrapper if, and only if the total
weight of such immediate wrapper does not exceed-
i. 8
per cent where such immediate wrapper is a waxed paper or any other paper with
wax or aluminium foil under strip; or
ii. 6
per cent in the case of any other paper, of the total net weight of all the
items of confectionery contained in the package minus the weight of immediate
wrapper :-
e.
a distinctive batch number
or lot number or code number, either in numericals or alphabets or in
combination, the numericals or alphabets or their combination, representing the
batch number or lot number or code number being preceded by the words
"Batch No." or Batch or "Lot" No., or "Lot" or
any distinguishing prefix.
Provided that in
case of canned food, the batch number may be given at the bottom, or on the lid
of the container, but the words, "Batch No." given at the bottom or
on the lid, shall appear on the body of the container.
f.
the month and year in which
the commodity is manufactured or prepacked.
Provided that in
case of package weighing 20 g. less and liquid products marketed in bottles
which are recycled for refilling, particulars under clause (b) need not be
specified.
Provided further
also that such declarations shall be given on the label of a multipiece package
either on the label of multipiece package or in a separate slip inside the
multipiece package in such a manner that the same is readable even without
opening the package.
Provided that in
case of carbonated water containers and the packages of biscuits, confectionery
and sweets, containing more than 60 g., but not more than 120 g. and food
packages weighing not more than 60g., particulars under clauses (d) and (e) need not be specified.
Provided also that
in case of package containing bread and milk including sterilised milk,
particulars under clause (e) need not be specified.
Provided also that in case of any package
containing bread or liquid milk, sterilised or Ultra high Temperature treated
milk, soya milk, flavoured milk, any package containing dhokla, bhelpuri,
pizza, doughnuts, khoa, paneer or any uncanned package of fruit, vegetables,
meat, fish or any other like commodity which has a short shelf life, the date,
month and year in which the commodity is manufactured or prepared or prepacked
shall be mentioned, on the label;
Provided also that
in case of package containing confectionery weighing 20g. or less, the
particulars under this clause need not be specified.
(g) the date of expiry in case of in capital
letters upto which the product is best for consumption, in the following
manner, namely:-
"Best Before
Months and year
"Best Before
Months from packaging
OR
"Best Before
Months from manufacture
OR
"Best Before upto months and year"
OR
Best Before within
Months For the period from the date of
packaging/manufacture upto and inclusive of
(Note: Blank be
filled up)
Provided that in
case of wholesale packages the particulars under clauses (b), (f), (g), (h) and
this clause need not be specified.
Provided further
that in case of package or bottle containing sterilised or Ultra High
Temperature treated milk, soya milk, flavoured milk, any package containing
bread, dhokla, bhelpuri, pizza, doughnuts, khoa, paneer or any uncanned package
of fruits, vegetables, meat, fish or any other like commodity, the declaration
by made as follow:-
"Best Before
Date/ Months / Year"
OR
"Best Before
Days from packaging
OR
"Best Before
Days from manufacture"
OR
"Best Before
upto Date /Months / Year" For the period upto and OR inclusive of
"Best Before
within Days from the date of packaging / Manufacture"
(Note : (i) blank
be filled up )
i.
Month
and year may be used in numerals.
ii. year
may be given in two digits.)
Provided also that
in case of a package containing confectionery weighing 20g or less, the
particulars under clause (i) may not be specified.
Provided also that
the above declaration of best before consumption shall not be applicable to the
Packages of Aspartame and Infant milk substitute and Infant food.
Explanation I -The
term "label" means a display of written, marked, graphic, printed,
perforated, stencilled, embossed or stamped matter upon the container, cover,
lid or crown of any food package.
Explanation II -
"Complete Address" means in the case of a company, the address at
which its registered office is situated and, in any other case, the name of
street, number (if any), assigned to the premises of the manufacturer or packer
and either the name of the city and State where the business is carried on by
the manufacturer or packer or the pin code. For the purpose of this
explanation, shorter address registered under Rule 36 of the Standards of
Weights and Measures (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 1977*, shall also be treated
as complete address.
Explanation III -
For the purpose of declaration of month and year of manufacture, the provision
under Rule 6(B) of the Standards of Weights and Measures (Packaged Commodities
) Rules 1977 shall apply.
Explanation IV - A
Batch Number or Code Number or Lot Number is a mark of identification by which
the food can be traced in manufacture and identified in distribution.
Explanation V-
"Multipiece package" means a package containing two or more
individually packaged or labelled pieces of the same commodity of identical
quantity. Intended for retail either in individual places or packages as a
whole.
Explanation VI-
"Wholesale package" means a package containing-
(a) a number of retail package, where such
first mentioned package is intended for sale, distribution or delivery to an
intermediary and is not intended for sale direct to a single consumer, or
(b)
a commodity of food sold to
an intermediary in bulk to enable such intermediary to sell, distribute or
deliver such commodity of food to the consumer is smaller quantities.
Explanation VII -
prepacked commodity with its grammatical variations and cognate expressions
means a commodity of food with or without the purchaser being present, is
placed in a package of whatever nature so that the quality of the commodity
contained therein has a predetermined value and such value cannot be altered
without the package or its lid or cap, as the case may be, being opened or
undergoing a perceptible modification.
Explanation VIII -
i.
"Best
Before" means the date which signifies the end of the period under any
stated storage conditions during which the product will remain fully marketable
and will retain any specific qualities for which tacit or express claims have
been made. However, provided that beyond the date the food may still be
perfectly satisfactory.
ii.
In
addition to the date of best before, any special conditions for the storage of
the food shall be declared on the label if the validity of the date depends on
such storage.
Note: The
expression package, wherever it occurs in these rules, shall be construed as
package containing prepacked commodity of food articles.
Explanation IX -"Non - Vegetarian
Food" means an article of food which contains whole or part of any animal
including birds, fresh water or marine animals or eggs as an ingredient.
Nutritional
Food - The
food claimed to be enriched with nutrients such as minerals, proteins or
vitamins shall give the quantities of such added nutrients on the label.
Languages of
the particulars or declaration of the label - The particulars of declaration required
under these rules to be specified on the label shall be in English or Hindi in
Devnagri script.
Provided that
nothing herein contained shall prevent the use of any other language in
addition to the language required under this rule.
Declaration to
be surrounded by line - There shall be a surrounding line enclosing the declaration
and where the words "unsuitable for
babies" are required to be used
there shall be another such line enclosing these words.
Distance of
surrounding line- The distance between any part of the words "unsuitable for babbies" and the surrounding line enclosing these words
shall not be less than 1.5 mm.
Principal display
panel, its area, size and letters, etc.-(1) Principal display panel means that
part of a label which is intended or is likely to be displayed, presented or
shown or examined by the customer under normal and customary conditions of
display sale or purchase of the commodity of food contained in the package.
2. The area of the principal
display panel shall not be less than -
a. in the case of a
rectangular container, forty percent of the product of height and width of the
panel of such container having the largest area;