The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued a notification extending the timeline for compliance with the requirements relating to the warning statements on pan masala. This notification was issued on December 7, 2023.
It may be recalled that as per directions dated 22nd May, 2023, Pan Masala must have a declaration that “The warning statement must cover 50% of front-of-pack of the label”. The enforcement of this requirement was deferred for a period of 3 months from 1st May, 2023.
Subsequently, the FSSAI has received representation from association requesting an extension of time-period for compliance of this requirement. This is due to the desire to exhaust the packaging material having the existing warning and to arrange for the new packaging material.
Hence, the FSSAI had decided to further defer the enforcement of this requirement for a period of 3 months from 1st August, 2023. These directions had been issued on August 1, 2023.
Now, FSSAI has received further representation from association, federations, industries, requesting an extension of time-period for compliance of this requirement. This is due to their desire to exhaust the existing packaging material currently in their inventory.
Therefore, upon extensive consideration, FSSAI has decided to further extend the timeline for compliance with this requirement. The concerned stakeholders are now provided a period of six (6) months from November 1, 2023 to comply with this requirement.
Hence, by virtue of the present notification, manufacturers of pan masala are provided a timeline up till May 1, 2024 to comply with the requirement of the warning statement on their products.
