Govt amends rules on waxing of fruits, mycotoxins in food

New Delhi, July 14 (UNI) The Health Ministry has issued notifications amending rules regarding coating of fresh fruits with bees wax or carnauba wax under proper label declaration and prescribing limit of Mycotoxins in milk, apple juice, wheat, barley and rye.

The draft Prevention of Food Adulteration (Amendment) Rules notification published vide notification GSR 298 (E) dated 18.05.2006 in the Gazette of India, section 3, sub-section (i) Extraordinary dated May 18 also covers issues like permitting use of Acesulfame Potassium (artificial sweetener) in cereal based beverages as per codex level subject to labeling conditions, a health ministry release said today.

The draft PFA Amendment Rules pertain to amendments like coating of Fresh Fruits with Bees Wax (White and Yellow) or Carnauba Wax at GMP level subject to labelling of name of wax and best before date.

These food grade waxes are allowed in various countries and recommended by Codex/JECFA. The CCFS recommended these waxes for coating fresh fruits.

It fixes limits of various Mycotoxins in milk, apple juice and apple juice ingredients in other beverages, wheat, barely and rye based on available scientific literature on toxins in foods.

The amendment also deal with standards of various food colours to align with BIS standards and JECFA specifications. Bringing all Emulsifier and Stabilizer, antioxidant and preservative already permitted in flavours under different rules, under one entry in Table 3 of appendix C of PFA Rules.

Meanwhile, a provision has also been inserted for establishment of Food Recall System under the Prevention of Food Adulteration Rules, 1955. With this provision, no person shall himself or by any person on his behalf, manufacture for the sale or store, sell, distribute or exhibit for sale any article of food which is pre-packed, unless he has in place a system and procedure to recall the article of food or any ingredient or any substance placed in the market which is adulterated or misbranded or injuriousto health.

The draft rules are published for inviting public comments till expiry of a period of 60 days from the date of availability of the notification to the public. Comments if any, may be sent to Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Nirman Bhawan, New Delhi within the stipulated time period. The details of the notification are available on the ministry's website w.mohfw.nic.in/pfa.htm.

UNI AJ SI BST1839