In its partial modification of the order dated November 3, 2021, FSSAI has made an amendment with respect to the ‘Testing Charges’ for fruit & vegetable products and cereals & cereal products.
According to the regulator’s directive, “In the case of cereals and cereal products, including atta and maida, and vitamin and mineral premixes for the preparation of fortified foods, an additional Rs. 2,000 may be added when fortified with iron, folic acid, and vitamin B12.” In addition, Rs. 2000 may be added if such products are also fortified with zinc, vitamin A, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, and pyridoxine if declared on the label.
Also, the food safety and standard authority of India added that in the case of microbiological testing of food grain products, an additional Rs. 500 may be added for each pathogen as applicable for that food grain product for ‘Testing Charges’ for fruit & vegetable products and cereals & cereal products.
The November 3rd Order stated that the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) hereby prescribes the testing fees, which shall be uniformly applicable for both domestic and import samples drawn by Food Safety Officers, Authorized Officers, etc. and tested by laboratories notified by FSSAI, and GST on these rates shall be applicable as per the orders of the Central Government, as amended from time to time, while these revised testing fees shall be effective from December 1, 2021.