anda dae PARLIAMENT OF INDIA Tea ar afaara RAJYA SABHA SECRETARIAT ‘daa weriiadta aie, Parliament House/Annexe, 3 farett-110001 ‘New Dethi-110001. ‘wef: https/rajyasabhahindlnic.in ‘Website : http://rajyasabha.nic.in LAF! 5" July, 2022 012/1/202: and F or MEMORANDUM Subject: Letter of Shri Lenin Raghuvanshi, Convenor, Peoples’ Vigi ‘Committee on Human Rights regarding “Urgent need of implementing mandatory ‘front of pack health warning lables’ on all the packaged foods in India by FSSAI" - reg. The undersigned is directed to refer to your representation dated 20% April, 2022 on the subject cited above, and to state that the issues raised by you were taken up with the Department of Health and Family Welfare to solicit their comments. The comments of the Department have been received. 2. A copy of the comments received from Department of Health and Family Welfare (Food Regulation Section) is enclosed herewith for your information. DDITIONAL DIRECTOR Tel: 011-23034034 (O) 011-23038779 (0) To Shri Lenin Raghuvanshi Convenor Peoples’ Vigilance Committee on Human Right (PYCHR) SA 4/2 A Daulatpur, Varanasi-221002File No.P.15025/88/2022-FR No.P.15025/88/2022-FR RG FRORIGovermment of India Forge qd URUK aca ¥aIu/Minkstry of Health & Family Welfare (el APR 3eGHFUFood Regulation Section) ‘frrtor er ag fea Nirman Bhavan, New Delhi ~11 feetifea/Dated: 27%h June, 2022 Memorandum. oO Sub: Letter of Shri Lenin Raghuvanshi, Founder and Convenor, Peoples’ Vigilance Committee on Human Rights regarding “Urgent need of implementing mandatory ‘front of pack health warning lables? on all the packaged foods in India by Fi The undersigned is directed to refer to Rajya Sabha Secretariat’s O.M. No.LAFEAS- HF21012/1/2022-H and FW-RSS dated 19.05.2022 on the subject cited above and to say thet action taken by the Ministry/FSSAI on the subject matter is as under: “Proposal on Front of Pack Labelling to distinctly indicate the packaged food products high in fat, sugar & salt has been considered by the Scientific Committee constituted by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSAI) and the same would be placed for the consideration of Food Authority of FSAI at its subsequent meeting. Accordingly, a draft notification will be placed on the website of FSSAL. Henee any comments/suggestions on the FoPL may be given at the time of draft notification. 2, This issues with the approval of competent authority. Digially Signed by Vishal Kumar Gupta Date: 27-06-2022 16:5234 son: Approved (Vishal Kumar Gupta) ‘etary to the Government of India Telefax : 23062796 vishalkumar.gupta77@nic.i To Rajya Sabha Sceretriat [Shri Bhupendra Bhaskar, Addl. Director] Parliament House/Annexe, New Delhi-110001. Copy to: 1. Parliament Section, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Nirman Bhawan, New Delhi, 2. Under Secretary (CH), MoH&FW Copy for information to: PS to JS (MKB/PS to DS (KKK), MoH&FW.onda wag PARLIAMENT OF INDIA Tea aT afaarerat RAJYA SABHA SECRETARIAT dag weriradre ie, Parliament House/Annexe, 8 fareii-110001 New Delhi-110001. aad + http://rajSasabhahindis Website : http://rajyasabha.nicin LAFEAS-HF21012/1/2022-H and FW-RSS 5 July, 2022 OFFICE MEMORANDUM Subject: Letter of Shri Lenin Raghuvanshi, Convenor, Peoples’ Vigilance Committee on Human Rights regarding public health crisis among Jdren of our country - reg. ‘The undersigned is directed to refer to your representation dated 12% April, 2022 on the subject cited above, and to state that the issues raised by you were taken up with the Department of Health and Family Welfare to solicit their comments. The comments of the Department have been received. 2. A copy of the comments received from Department of Health and Family Welfare (Child Health Section) is enclosed herewith for your information. (BHUPERDRA AR) ADDITIONAL DIRECTOR ‘Tel: 011-23034034 (O) 011-23035779 (O) To Shri Lenin Raghuvanshi Convenor Peoples’ Vigilance Committee on Human Right (PVCHR) SA 4/2 A Daulatpur, Varanasi-221002rie no.c-couzuirorzuze-Un No. Z-28020/76/2022-CB Government of India Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (Child Health Section) ‘Nirman Bhawan, New Delhi, . Dated 17/06/2022. Office Memorandum Subject: Letter of Shri Lenin Raghuvanshi, Convenor, Peoples’ Vigilance Committee on Human Rights regarding public health crisis among children of our country-reg. The undersigned is directed to refer to Rajya Sabha Secretariat's OM No. LAFEAS- HF21011/1/2022-H and FW-RSS dated 02-05-2022 on the above subject and to enclose the comments of M/o Health and Family Welfare in the matter of interventions suggested by Shri Lenin Raghuvanshi. 2 This issues with the approval of competent authority. Digitally Signed by Amit Sahai Enel, as above Date: 17-062202a!%1)09:52 Under Secretary to “hpeaegresuatdac OL PESOS SO Shri Bhupendra Bhaskar, Additional Director, Rajya Sabha Secretariat, Parliament House Annexe, New Delhi-110001rhe no.g-ouzuirozuce-Un ‘Comments of M/o Health and Family Welfare in respect of interventions suggested by Shri Lenin Raghuvanshi, Convenor, People’s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights vide letter dated 02-12-2022 |. NCD prevalence and ‘omments of FSAI (Regulatory Compliance Division); FSSAI had draft notified provisions for Front-of-pack| lutritional labelling (FOPNL) under the draft FSS} (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2019 in July, 2019, farious stakeholders from industry associations, consumer} ganizations. NGOs. ele, raised concems on the same, citing| issues in implementation of the draft FOPNL - ‘such as| jetermination of serve sizes, use of terms added sugar/total ugar, salt/sodium, total fals/saturated fats, thresholds, ete. FSSAT initiative on regulation of ultra- processed packaged food through Front of Packets Level (FoPL) in view of Obesity and malnutrition in children. Consultative Group was constituted al FSSAT to draw al vonsensus between the industry associations and consumer ganizations on thresholds of fat, sugar and salt, as well as} thod of labelling to be used. The Consultative Croup] merged with consensus on various aspects such as nutrients} 10 be displayed, use of 100gm/ml, ete. Further. it also| commended to undertake 2 nation-wide survey for| derstanding consumer preferences in India and to review) ¢ categorization of foods for FOPNL. IAccordingly, an MoU was signed with ITM, Ahmedabad in| ptember, 2021 for conduct of survey-based study on| Consumer perceptions of different front-of-pack labels for ackaged food among Indian population’. TIM Ahmedabad resented the report of survey in the stakeholders’ meeting! eld on 15.02.2022, which recommended Star Rating as a jodel for achieving careful combination of ease of identification and understanding and change of purchase Jochaviour of Indian consumers. Further, the categorisation o! food as well as thresholds for these categories was also] ‘ecommended by the concerned Scientific Panel in the same| meeting. The minutes of the meeting held on 15.02.2022 are| havailable on FSSAL's website. Based on the decisions taken| in the meeting the recommendations made by the Scientific : [Panel as well as IM, Ahmedabad shall be included in the| F'SS Regulations as a draft notification, which shall be placed| n FSSAI’s website, Hence any comments/suggestions on \e FOPNL may be given al the time of draft notification ii. Sealing up new WHO |Comments of Maternal Health Division: Gol's Maternal Antenatal Care Health Programmes are comprehensive and holistic in] recommendations. nature. They follow a continuum of care approach and provide for services to women from before the time o conception to the post partum period and there after. [There is provision from providing a complete package oINO.2-20ULU/OIZUZ2-UN NC services including physical examination. dT] accination, high risk screening, distribution of supplements| in the form of Iron Folic Acid (IFA) and Calcium in the ecommended doses as well as nutritional counselling and| rovision of ultrasound scanning to pregnant woman during| her visit to Village Health, Sanitation and Nutrition Day| (VHSND) and’Public Health Facilities. IAs recommended, there is provision of antenatal high risk percening sso for detection, referral and management of high! ‘isk conditions like Anemia, Gestational Diabetes mellitus, Hypertension etc during ANC visits to Public Health Facilities with extra ANC visits for high risk pregnant| vomen. Various Maternal Health Programmes like Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (SSK), Janani Suraksha Yojana| JSY), Pradhan Manti Surakshit Matritva | Abhiyan| PMSMA), Labour Room Quality Improvement Initiative| LaQshya) and Surakshit Matritava Aashwasan (SUMAN) mnsure assurance of services, free of cost with quality, respect and dignity to the pregnant women visiting these| wealth facilities there by ensuring safe institutional delivery| nd reduction of morbidity and mortality. Scaling up of Comments of Child Health _ Section-Nutrition: programme to protect, |Government of India has been implementing “MAA - promote and support |Mothers’ Absolute Affection” programme since 2016 to] Breast Feeding, improve appropriate breastfeeding practices in the country) redesigning the through health systems, Under this programme, guidance for comprehensive set of activities are undertaken for capacity) Complimentary feeding | building of the health care providers on promotion and] practices and growth | support of breastfeeding at community and facility levels, monitoring programmes.| _ . Government of India has also launched Home Based care} for Young Children (HBYC) in 2018 with objectives to} reduce child mortality and morbidity, and improve nutrition] status, growth and carly childhood development of young| children through structured, focused and effective home| visits by ASHAs. Under HBYC. additional $- visits by ASHA in 3rd, 6th 9th, 12th and 15th months under| undertaken for interventions in key domains namely] . nutrition, health, child development and WASH. Prevention of undue ‘omments received from FSSAT (S&S-I/Codes| harm from energy dense Division): and micronutrient ‘ood Safety and Standards Regulations define necessary] fortified foods and readyfuuality & safety parameters of food products. These science-| to use supplements ased standards have been specified in alignment with Codex other international Standards. As stipulated in sub-| -gulation 3(6) of Food Safety and Standards (Fortification| f Foods) Regulations, 2018. the Fortified Processed Food| hall provide 15-30% of the Indian adult RDA of ‘icronutrient based on an average calorie intake of 600 kcalrhe No.e-coucurrorcuceun rom processed foods (approximately 1/3rd of daily energy] equirement for an adult). With regard to ready to use supplements, FSS (Labelling and isplay) Regulations, 2020 and Food Safety and Standards Health Supplements, Nutraceuticals, Food for Special etary Use, Food for Special Medical Purpose, Functional ‘ood and Novel Food) Regulations, 2016 specifies suitable] labelling declaration requirements so as to protect consumer| interests.Be OO ca eo RAJYA SABHA 255 .ccpo ots Digg Sh: lens Vans) Comers ; see ites Sect Peoples’ vigtloute Goonies ee ae en Maman Rise Quen, SR Gf A Dertadkgor, enone -22ho02 -daata der, ag fereit-110007 aro T(E) 4 : oe | RSS WEBSITE : hap: P ia