11/9/21, 12:30 AM EPBM&F: Lesson 28.

NATIONAL FOOD LAWS ( BIS, AGMARK, FPO, Consumer Protection Act)

Engineering Properties of Biological Materials and Food Quality 3(2+1)

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Lesson 28. NATIONAL FOOD LAWS ( BIS, AGMARK, FPO, ...

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Lesson 28. NATIONAL FOOD LAWS ( BIS, AGMARK, FPO, Consumer Protection Act)
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28.1 Introduction
Current course
EPBM&F Food may be contaminated or adulterated and may injurious to health due to
Participants various reasons. It is essential to set the minimum limits of the desirable
General characteristics required and the maximum limits of the undesirable components.
Module- 1
Engineering Food Laws are for the following reasons:
Properties of
Biological Mat... To maintain the quality of the food produced in the country.
Module- 2 Physical
Properties of To prevent exploitation of the consumers by the sellers.
Biomaterials
Module- 3 To safeguard the health of the consumers.
Engineering
Properties To establish criteria for quality of the food products
Module- 4
Rheological Most common standards are :
Properties of
Biomaterials Legal Standards: These are established by federal, central, state or municipal
Module- 5 Food agencies and are generally mandatory. These are set up by the law or through
Quality regulation. They generally concerned with freedom from adulteration.
Module- 6 Food
Sampling Company or Voluntary Standards: These are established by various segments
Module- 7 Sensory of the food industry. These standards generally represent consumer image and
quality
become symbol of product quality. These are used by private firms or
Module 8. Quality
Control and
supermarkets.
Management
Industry Standards: These standards are established by an organizational
Module 9. Food
Laws group to maintain the quality of the given commodity. These standards become
Lesson 27. effective by pressure where other legal standards are not involved.
FOOD LAWS-I (
FSSAI, Weights Consumer or Grade Standards: These standards represent consumer's
& Meas... requirements of the product and generally based on the experience of the
Lesson 28. industry for consumers.
NATIONAL
FOOD LAWS (
BIS, AGMARK,
FPO, ...
28.2 Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS):
Module 10.
Standards and
regulations in food
BIS certification scheme is voluntary and aims at providing quality, safety
quali... and dependability to the ultimate consumer. Presence of certification mark
Lesson 32. known as Standard Mark on a product is an assurance of conformity to
Sanitation in food specifications The activities of Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) are
industry
formation of Indian Standards in the processed food sector and the implementation of
Courses
standards through promotion, voluntary and third party certification systems. In
general these standards cover raw materials and their quality parameters, hygienic
conditions under which products are manufactured and packaging and labeling
requirements. Manufacturers complying with standards laid down by the BIS can
obtain the ISI Mark that can be exhibited on product packages. These standards have
higher quality specifications than those prescribed under AGMARK and FSSAI.
The BIS has laid down specification for mineral water and packaged drinking water
and is the licensing authority for the manufacture of mineral water and packaged
drinking water in India. IS Standards have been laid down for fruit and vegetable
products, spices and condiments, animal products and processed foods. The products

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11/9/21, 12:30 AM EPBM&F: Lesson 28. NATIONAL FOOD LAWS ( BIS, AGMARK, FPO, Consumer Protection Act)

are checked for quality by the BIS in their own network of testing laboratories or in
several public and private laboratories recognized by them. Under BIS many of the
standards are laid down based upon ISO (International Organization for
Standardization) standards which is a worldwide federation of National Standard
Bodies.
28.2.1 Constitution of the Bureau: The Bureau consist members such as the
Minister in charge of the Ministry, Minister of State, the Director-General of the
Bureau, persons representing the Ministries, state Governments, recognized consumer
organizations, farmers, industry and trade, research institutions, technical, educational
and professional organizations etc.
28.2.2 Powers and Functions of the Bureau
28.2.2.1 Establishment, Publication and Promotion of Indian Standards : For
the purpose of formulation of Indian Standards in respect of articles or processes,
technical committees of experts are constituted. Such committees may include
Division Councils, Sectional Committees, Sub-committees and Panels and each of
these councils have specified functions .
28.2.2.2 Procedure for Establishment of Indian Standards: Any Ministry of
Central or State Government, consumer organizations, industrial units, industry-
associations, professional bodies, can submit proposals to the Bureau for
establishing a standard or for revising, amending, a standard by making a request
in writing. Division Council concerned will assign the task of formulating the
standard to an appropriate Technical Committee. Later a draft standard prepared
and duly approved by a Committee shall be issued and widely circulated for a
period of not less than one month amongst the various interests concerned for
critical review and suggestions for improvement. The appropriate Technical
Committee shall thereafter finalize the draft standard giving due consideration to
the comments that may be received. The draft standard shall be submitted to the
Chairman of the Division Council concerned for adoption. All established
standards shall be reviewed periodically, at least once in five years, to determine
the need for revision or withdrawal. Standards which there is need to revise or
amendment shall be reaffirmed.

28.2.2.3 Grant of License: Manufacturing units can apply for BIS license on a
prescribed form along with application fee and other documents such as location
map of factory list of manufacturing and testing equipments, flow charts of the
process, details of the technical staff etc. BIS office will do a preliminary
inspection verify all documents and process. The product samples are drawn and
sent for analysis at BIS certified lab. After satisfactory inspection and sample
report of the product, license is granted 1 to 2 years which can renewed
periodically.

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11/9/21, 12:30 AM EPBM&F: Lesson 28. NATIONAL FOOD LAWS ( BIS, AGMARK, FPO, Consumer Protection Act)

28.2.2.4 Inspection : The certified units are inspected by inspecting officers. The
may be done at manufacturing place, dispatch place or at the place where it is
used. At manufacturing place the inspection will also be for the QA systems,
verification and validation. The Bureau shall designate such of the officers of the
Bureau as Inspecting Officers
28.2.2.5 STOP Marking: If there is evidence that the product is not as per the
conforming standards and agreed clauses, the licensee will be directed to stop
marking. The reasons can be Non conformance of products at manufacturing place
or at market place, Non implementation of Scheme of Testing of the products, Non
availability of testing staff , Significant modification of plant and machinery with
out informing BIS, Relocation of plant and machinery, Prolonged closure of the
unit, Marking non conformed product, Marking standard mark other than that are
included in the license. The licensee can resume only after re inspection and
satisfactory compliance.

28.3 AGMARK
The word Agmark is derived from Agricultural Marketing. The
DMI under the Department of Agriculture and Co-operation in the
Ministry of Agriculture enforces the Agricultural Products (Grading
and Marketing) Act 1937. Under this Act Grade standards are
prescribed for agricultural and allied commodities. Agmark grading
means grading of an article in accordance with grade/standards
prescribed under the provisions of the act. These are known as AGMARK standards.
Grading under the provision of this Act is voluntary. Any person or body of persons
desirous of being authorized to grade and mark an article under the provisions of the
act shall apply to the agricultural marketing advisor or any other officer of the Central
Government or State Government authorized by Agricultural Marketing Advisor.
Manufacturers who comply with standard laid down by DMI are allowed to use
"AGMARK" labels on their products
The grade designation marks shall be applied only to the articles mentioned in the
certificate of authorization during the validity period. The certificate of authorization is
issued by agricultural marketing advisor or any other officer of the central or state
government authorized by the Agricultural Marketing Advisor. The grade designation
characteristics vary from product to product. The quality of the product is determined
with reference to the size, variety, weight, color, moisture, fat content and other factors
are taken in to account. It covers quality assurances of unprocessed, semi processed
and processed agricultural commodities. Blended edible vegetable oils and fat spread
are compulsorily required to be certified under Agmark.
The inspecting officer shall analyze the sample for quality factors as laid down in
grading and marketing rules of the specific commodity in respect of produce. The
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11/9/21, 12:30 AM EPBM&F: Lesson 28. NATIONAL FOOD LAWS ( BIS, AGMARK, FPO, Consumer Protection Act)

inspecting officer shall also ensure that all the food article graded and certified under
Agmark shall satisfy the mandatory requirements laid down under PFA rules. The
rules for affixation of AGMARK labels, method of packing and marking, check
sampling and certificate of grading rules are also given under this act.
28.3.1 Salient features of Agmark standard:
(1) Quality standards for Agricultural commodities are framed based on their
intrinsic quality.
(2) Food safety factors are being incorporated in the standards to compete in world
trade.
(3) Standards are being harmonized with international standards keeping in view
the WTO requirements.
(4) Check is kept on the quality of certified products through 23 laboratories and
43 offices spread all over the country
The grades incorporated are grades 1, 2, 3 and 4 or special, good, fair and
ordinary.
Agmark products are subjected to continuous inspection. The certificate of
“Authorization” is granted only to those in the trade having adequate experience
and standing in the market. The staff of the DMI or of the state Government is
generally present at the time of selection of goods, their processing, grading and
packing before applying the appropriate AGMARK labels.
Products available under AGMARK are pulses, wheat products, vegetable oils,
ground spices, whole spices, milk products, honey, compounded asafetida, rice,
tapioca sago, seedless tamarind and gram flour; grading of these commodities is
voluntary. On the other hand grading of commodities like tobacco, walnut, spices,
basmati rice, essential oils, onion, potatoes are meant for export is compulsory
under AGMARK.
The Directorate of marketing and inspection of central government has 21
laboratories and 50 sub offices spread all over the country. The central AGMARK
laboratory at Nagpur continuously carries out research and development works in
this field.
28.4 FRUIT PRODUCTS ORDER (FPO) 1955
Constituted under Essential Commodities Act it is mandatory for all
manufacturers of Fruit and Vegetable Products to obtain a licence
under FPO. The act is implemented by the Food Safety and Standards
Authority of India through Directorate of Fruit & Veg. Processing at
its Regional Offices.
The Fruit Product Order (FPO) lays down statutory minimum standards in respect of
the quality of various fruits and vegetable products and processing facilities at
manufacture, storage and sale. The Agricultural marketing Advisor is authorized by
law to issue a license for manufacturing fruits and vegetable products, after due
inspection of the factory for hygiene, sanitation and quality of formulation. Periodic
inspection by Government inspectors in establishments is carried out to ensure
conformity of standards by processors. Licenser is empowered to put the FPO
specification mark on the product. The products covered in FPO include, fruit juice,
pulp concentrate, squashes, cordials, crush, fruit syrups, nectar, aerated water
containing fruit juice or pulp and read to serve beverages etc., Depending on their
quality the products are grade in four categories as ordinary, fair, good and special.
The FPO specifications cover list of constituents, a method of presentation permissible
colors in the preparation and also minimum quality requirement of the product. An
expert committee known as the Central Food Product Advisory Committee deals with
all matters relating to the FPO.
FPO also lays down specific requirements in regard to the following:
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11/9/21, 12:30 AM EPBM&F: Lesson 28. NATIONAL FOOD LAWS ( BIS, AGMARK, FPO, Consumer Protection Act)

Containers and labeling requirement

Limits of poisonous metals in fruit products
List of permissible harmless food colors
Limits for permitted preservatives in fruit products
Other permitted additives
28.5 Consumer Protection Act 1986:
Government of India has accorded a very high priority to the consumer protection
programme. Ministry of food and Consumer Affairs, Department of Consumer Affairs
has been designated as the Nodal Department to deal with the area of consumer
protection. Since 1986, the department is taking a number of measures to promote a
strong and broad based consumer movement in the country. The main objective of this
Act is to provide better protection for the consumer in terms of quality of the product
he buys. Unlike the existing laws which are preventive in nature, the provisions of this
Act are compensatory in nature. This Act is intended to provide simple, speedy and
inexpensive redressal to the consumer's grievance and relief of specific nature. The act
has been amended in 1993 both to extend its coverage and scope and to enhance the
powers of redressal machinery.

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