Fssai Guidelines On Labelling Of Vegetable Oil

FSSAI has come up with an amendment in labelling regulations of vegetable oils on December 24, 2018.It shall come into force before July 1st, 2018. This article may help you understand the basic guidelines to follow in labelling requirements for Vegetable oils.

Basic Guidelines for labelling of Vegetable Oils: –

1. The manufacturers shall not use the expressions “Super- Refined”, “Extra-Refined”, “Micro-Refined”, “Double-Refined”, Ultra-Refined”, “Anti-Cholesterol”, “Cholesterol Fighter”, “Soothing to Heart”, “Cholesterol Friendly”, “Saturated Fat Free” on the label on package or the advertisement of edible oils and fats. They shall not use any expression which an exaggeration to the quality of product. The label on package or the advertisement of edible oils and fats shall not use the expressions “Super- Refined”, “Extra-Refined”, “Micro-Refined”, “Double-Refined”, Ultra-Refined”, “Anti-Cholesterol”, “Cholesterol Fighter”, “Soothing to Heart”, “Cholesterol Friendly”, “Saturated Fat Free” or such other expressions which is an exaggeration to the quality of product.

2.  Every container of solvent-extracted oil or de-oiled meal must be written in English or Hindi (Devnagri script). The things that need to be considered.

(i) The name, trade name.
(ii) Oil not following the standards of quality for “refined” grade solvent extracted oil a declaration in a type-size of not less than 50 mm, as follows shall appear on the label which say:
a) “NOT FOR DIRECT EDIBLE CONSUMPTION”, in the case of oils complying with the requirements for the “semi-refined” or “raw-grade 1” grades of oil.
b) “FOR INDUSTRIAL NON-EDIBLE USES ONLY”, in the case of oils not complying with the requirements in (a).
(iii) The name and business particulars of the producer.
(iv) The net weight of the contents in the container.
(v) The batch number, month and year of manufacture.
(vi) Indian Standards Institution certification mark is mandatory.
(vii) Every container in which Vanaspati, margarine, bakery shortening, blended edible vegetable oils, mixed fat spread and refined vegetable oil is packed in addition to other labelling requirements provided in these regulations shall bear the following details in English or Hindi in Devnagri script:
(a) The name/description of the contents, “free from Argemone Oil”;
(b) The mass/volume of the contents.

(viii) A package containing annatto colour in vegetable oils shall bear the following label : Annatto colour in oil (Name of oil/oils) used

New guidelines for labelling of vegetable oils:

The guidelines on labeling of vegetable oils mentioned above are added with new amendments on Dec 24, 2018 mentioned as below: –
1.  Package containing an admixture of edible oils shall carry the following label declaration immediately below its brand name/trade name on front of pack, namely: –

Blended Edible Vegetable Oil
(Name and nature* of edible vegetable oil) …………………percentage by weight
(Name and nature* of edible vegetable oil) ……………………percentage by weight

2.  The font size of the label declaration for “Blended Edible Vegetable Oil” shall not be less than 5 mm and for label declaration “Name and nature of edible vegetable oil…. % by weight”, font size shall not be less than 3mm.

3.  The font size of the label declaration of “Blended Edible Vegetable Oil” shall not be less than 10mm, if the net quantity of the edible oil contained in the packages is 5 litres and above.

4.  There shall also be the following declaration to point (3) in bold capital letters along with the name of product on front/central panel, – “NOT TO BE SOLD LOOSE”.

FSSAI is asking the objections and suggestions of this draft regulation from public before final amendment. After this is finalized, manufacturers of vegetable oils need to follow the regulations.

References: –
1.Gazette Notification no. F.No. REG/11/27/BEVO-Labelling/FSSAI-2018 dated 24.12.2018 on Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) First Amendment Regulations, 2018 related to labelling of blended edible vegetable oils. (Uploaded on: 31.12.2018). Accessed on: 06.02.2019