Food safety regulator FSSAI on Monday retracted its earlier advisory that directed food businesses to eliminate claims of ‘A1’ and ‘A2’ types of milk and milk products from their packaging. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) announced that the advisory has been withdrawn to facilitate further discussions with stakeholders. Consequently, food business operators (FBOs) can continue to market their products with ‘A1’ and ‘A2’ milk claims.
A1 and A2 milk are distinguished by the structure of beta-casein protein, which varies depending on the breed of cow. In a newly issued advisory, FSSAI stated that the August 21, 2024, directive “stands withdrawn for further consultation and engagement with the stakeholders.”
Previously, on August 21, FSSAI had mandated FBOs to remove ‘A1’ and ‘A2’ claims from their products. E-commerce platforms were also instructed to eliminate such claims from their listings immediately. The regulator emphasized that these claims did not align with the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
Upon review, FSSAI found that the A1 and A2 distinctions pertain to the beta-casein protein structure in milk. However, the current regulatory framework does not acknowledge this differentiation. The August 21 advisory also necessitated that FBOs use up pre-printed labels within six months, with no extensions offered.
This retraction ensures that businesses can continue their current marketing practices while further stakeholder consultations are conducted.
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text, except for the headline.
Original Story https://www.livemint.com/news/india/fssai-withdraws-advisory-directing-food-businesses-to-remove-a1-a2-claims-from-packaging-of-milk-and-milk-products-india-11724729024600.html
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