In response to Unstarred Question No. 707 in Lok Sabha regarding the ban on food products, the Minister of State for Food Processing Industries (Shri Ravneet Singh) stated the following, based on input from FSSAI under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare:
Imported food in India is monitored via document scrutiny, visual inspection, sampling, and testing at Customs Points of Entry. This ensures the products meet safety and quality standards under the Food Safety Acts, Rules, and Regulations, and that safe and wholesome food is available for human consumption, including children. The list of food products that are banned in other countries is not available with FSSAI.
The additives permitted for use in various food products are prescribed in Appendix A of the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulation, 2011. Additives are permitted for use on the basis of risk assessments carried out by the Scientific Panel on Food Additives, Flavourings, and Processing Aids. A negative list of food additives (except flavoring agents) is unavailable.
Key Entities Referenced
Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulation, 2011: Regulation that prescribes the additives permitted for use in various food products.
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI): Agency providing input to the Ministry regarding food safety, including information on banned food products.
Ministry of Food Processing Industries: The ministry to whom questions regarding the ban on food products are addressed.
India: The country to which the questions and answers about food products apply.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 707
ANSWERED ON 04TH DECEMBER 2025
BAN ON FOOD PRODUCTS
707. DR. M K VISHNU PRASAD:
Will the Minister of Food Processing Industries be pleased to state:
(a) the list of food products that are banned in other countries but imported, produced and
sold in India
(b) the reason for banning such food products;
(c) the steps taken by the Government to monitor and ban the sale of such food products;
(d) whether the Government is aware that children are prone to buy such food products
affecting their growth and mental ability and if so, the details thereof and the measures
taken by the Government in this regard; and
(e) the details of highly harmful preservatives and artificial colouring agents that are banned
in the country?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
(SHRI RAVNEET SINGH)
As per input received from FSSAI under Ministry of Health and family welfare;
(a) to (e) Imported food in India is monitored through a process involving document
scrutiny, visual inspection, sampling and testing at Customs Points of Entry, to check whether
the products meet the safety and quality standards under Food Safety Acts, Rules and
Regulations to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption
including children. However, the list of food products that are banned in other countries are not
available with FSSAI.
The additives permitted for use in various food products are prescribed in the Appendix A
of Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulation, 2011.
Additives are permitted for use on the basis of risk assessments carried out by the Scientific
Panel on Food Additives, Flavourings and Processing Aids. No negative list of food additives
(except flavouring agents) is available.
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