Governing Regulations & Acts

Compliance for edible oils and fats is primarily mandated by the following FSSAI regulations:

Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006: The foundational act establishing FSSAI and the overall food safety framework. This act established the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and provides the legal basis for food safety regulations in the country. It covers all aspects of food manufacturing, processing, distribution, and sale.
FSS (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011: Defines specific quality standards, definitions, and permitted additives for food categories, including edible oils and fats (Regulation 2.2). These regulations specify the quality parameters that edible oils and fats must meet, such as moisture content, FFA, RM value, and Baudouin test. They also list the permitted additives, such as antioxidants and preservatives, and their maximum levels.
FSS (Packaging and Labelling) Regulations, 2011: Outlines mandatory labelling information (nutrition facts, ingredients, FSSAI license, dates, etc.). These regulations mandate the information that must be displayed on the label of packaged edible oils and fats, including the name of the food, list of ingredients, nutritional information, vegetarian declaration, manufacturer’s details, net quantity, date of manufacture, best before date, FSSAI license number, storage instructions, fortification declaration, and trans fat content declaration.
FSS (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues) Regulations, 2011: Establishes maximum limits for contaminants (heavy metals, pesticides, aflatoxins). These regulations set the maximum permissible levels of contaminants, toxins, and residues in edible oils and fats to ensure food safety. Examples of regulated contaminants include heavy metals like lead and arsenic, pesticides like organophosphates and organochlorines, and mycotoxins like aflatoxins.
FSS (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011: Governs restrictions, such as those on selling certain oil mixtures unless permitted (e.g., blended edible vegetable oils). These regulations restrict the sale of certain food products that may pose a risk to public health. For example, they prohibit the sale of certain oil mixtures unless they meet specific requirements and are permitted by FSSAI.
FSS (Fortification of Foods) Regulations, 2018: Specifies mandatory fortification requirements (e.g., Vitamin A & D in Vanaspati and certain refined oils). These regulations mandate the fortification of certain edible oils and fats with essential vitamins and minerals to address nutritional deficiencies in the population. For example, Vanaspati and certain refined oils are required to be fortified with Vitamin A and Vitamin D.