The Food Authority has agreed to enable food importers to change the labels on imported food consignments, but only for “non-compliant” labels, and only at the warehouses that are destined for Customs.
In this regard, the FSSAI has issued an order that states that all “non-compliant” labels on imported food consignments may be permitted for correction at port itself in order to ease trade while ensuring the safety of food imported into India. This decision was made based on the provisions under Rule 6(4) of the FSS (Import) Regulations, 2017.
The order further said that the Authorised Officer had to certify label conformity with the FSS Act during the visual examination, whether or not it was in compliance.
According to the order, “This rectification has to be carried out at Customs-bound warehouses, before visual inspection or re-inspection by the Authorised Officer or his representative, by affixing a single non-detachable sticker or by any other non-detachable method,” and “the consignment shall be subject to sampling and testing only if it is compliant on lab tests.”