Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additive) Amendment Regulations, 2020 on the revision of standards for Honey have been operationalised with immediate effect. Food Business Operators shall now follow these regulations.
This direction will supersede the earlier directions issued on 29.10.2019 and 05.06.2020 as and will come into force with immediate effect.
However, in respect of the provisions, other than the parameters and limit thereof as prescribed under the item (V) ‘parameters and for honey’ of these amendment regulations, the compliance shall commence after six months from the date of issuance of this direction.
Earlier, based on the approval of Food Authority on the method of detection of 2-Acetylfuran-3-Glucopyranoside (2-AFGP)/3-0-Alpha-D-Glucosyl Isomaltol, the specific marker for Rice Syrup (SMR), LC-MS the parameter specific marker for Rice Syrup (SMR) was reinstated through a notification dated 5 June 2020.
Also, it has been decided to reinstate the parameter Foreign Oligosaccharides in the standards of Honey based on the recommendation of The Scientific Panel on Methods of Sampling and analysis in its 28th Meeting held on 18 June 2020
Details of parameters can be read in the notice.
Labelling Amendments
The item (vii and (Viii) in the clauses of regulation honey and its by-products shall be replaced with the following
(vii) In addition to the labelling provisions as given in the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulations, 2011, the following specific provisions shall be applicable for labelling of honey:
(a) Honey shall be labelled as:
Honeydew Honey – If the product complies with the definitions given in part 1 (i) of this standard
Blend of Honeydew Honey and Blossom Honey – If the product is mixture of Blossom or Nectar Honey and Honeydew honey
CarviaCallosa Honey – If the honey is derived from flower of Carviacallosa plant which is described as thixotropic and is gel like extremely viscous when standing still and turns into liquid when agitated or stirred.
(b) If the honey is obtained by pressing brood-less combs, honey shall be labelled as “Pressed Honey”. If honey belongs to any of the categories mentioned at a) above and also falling into the category of pressed honey, it shall be labelled as “Pressed Honeydew Honey” or “Pressed and Blend of Honeydew Honey and Blossom Honey” or “Pressed CarviaCallosa Honey”.
(viii) Honey may be labelled as follows, according to floral or plant source, if it comes from any particular source and has the organoleptic, physicochemical and microscopic properties corresponding with that origin. It shall be in addition to the labelling requirements as given at vii) above:
Monofloral Honey – If the minimum pollen content of the plant species concerned is not less than 45 per cent of total pollen content;
Multi Floral Honey – If the pollen content of any of the plant species does not exceed 45 per cent of the total pollen content;”
A new clause (ix) has been added to Honey and its by-products which is as follows
(ix) The said standards are applicable to packaged/ processed honey.”
