In the notification of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, published the Food Safety and Standards

## Report on Amendment to Food Safety and Standards (Foods for Infant Nutrition) Regulations, 2020 **1. Executive Summary:** This report analyzes a corrigendum issued by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on March 31st, 2021, which amends the Food Safety and Standards (Foods for Infant Nutrition) Regulations, 2020. This amendment addresses specific errors found within the original regulations published on December 4th, 2020. The key findings are that the amendment corrects numerical values, units of measurement, and ingredient names within the tables specifying requirements for infant nutrition products. These corrections are essential for accurate application of the regulations by manufacturers and enforcement agencies, ensuring proper nutrient levels and ingredient specifications in infant food products. **2. Introduction:** The purpose of this report is to provide stakeholders, particularly those in the infant nutrition industry, with a clear understanding of the changes introduced by the FSSAI's corrigendum to the Food Safety and Standards (Foods for Infant Nutrition) Regulations, 2020. This analysis is based solely on the text provided in the official notification. **3. Policy Overview:** * **Amendment:** This report concerns an amendment to the original "Food Safety and Standards (Foods for Infant Nutrition) Regulations, 2020," published in the Gazette of India on December 4th, 2020 (F. No. Stds03Notification IFR FSSAI2017). * **Core Objective(s):** The *inferred* objective of the *original* policy, based on the title, is to establish and regulate standards for foods intended for infant nutrition. The *inferred* objective of *this amendment* is to correct errors in the original regulations to ensure accuracy and clarity in the requirements for infant nutrition products. **4. Background and Rationale:** The text indicates that the purpose of this amendment is to rectify errors found in the original regulations. Specifically, the amendment addresses incorrect numerical values for optional ingredients/nutrients, errors in units of measurement, and typographical errors in ingredient names within the tables outlining standards for infant nutrition. The rationale for the amendment is to ensure the accuracy and enforceability of the regulations, preventing potential misinterpretations and inconsistencies in the manufacturing and quality control of infant food products. **5. Key Provisions / Changes:** This section details the specific changes introduced by the amendment: * **Change 1:** Page 47, clause e related to Optional Ingredient or Nutrient, serial no. 6, column 4: Changes "53.20 14.90" to "53.20 148.90". This corrects the maximum permissible value for a specific optional ingredient or nutrient. The effect of this change is to adjust the upper limit of the acceptable range for this ingredient, potentially impacting product formulations. * **Change 2:** Page 54, serial no. 16, column 2: Changes "Choline, mg, Max" to "Choline, mg, Min". This corrects the specification from a maximum to a minimum requirement for Choline. The effect of this change ensures a minimum level of Choline in the infant nutrition product, potentially improving nutritional adequacy. * **Change 3:** Page 57, serial no. 21, column 2: Changes "Chromium, g" to "Chromium, ng". This corrects the unit of measurement for Chromium from grams to nanograms. The effect is a significant reduction in the allowable amount of Chromium, aligning it with appropriate levels for infant nutrition. * **Change 4:** Page 58, serial no. 33, column 3: Changes "read" to "100350". This is likely correcting a typographical error in a reference value. The effect provides the correct value for compliance. * **Change 5:** Page 58, serial no. 35, column 2: Changes "Vitamin K, mg" to "Vitamin K, mcg". This corrects the unit of measurement for Vitamin K from milligrams to micrograms. The effect is a reduction in the unit of measure of allowable Vitamin K. * **Change 6:** Page 64, serial no. 44, column 2: Changes "DalphaTocopheryl acetate" to "DL alphaTocopheryl acetate". This corrects the ingredient name by adding "L" to "DalphaTocopheryl", thereby properly identifying the correct substance. **6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:** Based on the text, the primary target audience and stakeholders are: * Manufacturers of infant nutrition products. * Food safety regulators and enforcement agencies. * Consumers of infant nutrition products. **7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):** * **Responsible agency:** Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). * The amendment is effective from the date of publication (March 31, 2021). Manufacturers are expected to update their formulations and labeling to comply with these corrected standards immediately. Enforcement agencies will use these corrected standards for compliance monitoring. **8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:** The likely intended outcomes of these specific changes are: * Improved accuracy and clarity in the regulation of infant nutrition products. * Enhanced compliance by manufacturers due to clearer and more accurate specifications. * Improved nutritional quality of infant food products by ensuring appropriate levels of essential nutrients. * Reduced risk of misinterpretation and inconsistent enforcement of the regulations. **9. Conclusion:** The corrigendum to the Food Safety and Standards (Foods for Infant Nutrition) Regulations, 2020, is a crucial amendment that rectifies critical errors in the original regulations. This correction ensures that infant nutrition products adhere to the correct standards for nutrient levels, ingredient specifications, and units of measurement, contributing to the safety and nutritional quality of these products. Stakeholders, especially manufacturers, must understand and implement these changes to ensure compliance and uphold the health and safety of infants.

Key Entities Referenced