PART - VII - PACLKING AND LABELLING OF FOODS

Package of food to carry a label. - Every package of food shall carry a label and unless otherwise provided in these rules, there shall be specified on every label :-

(a) the name, trade name or description of food contained in the package ;

(b) the names of ingredients used in the product in descending order of their composition by weight or volume as the case may be :

Provided that in the case of artificial flavouring substances, the label may not declare the chemical names of the flavours but in the case of natural flavoruing substances or nature-identical flavouring substances, the common name of flavours shall be mentioned on the label.

Provided also that whenever Gelatin is used as an ingredient, a declaration to this effect shall be made on the label by inserting the word "Gelatin-Animal Origin. Labeling of veg. & non-Vegetarian foods as per notifications given.

Amended by notification on G.S.R. 877(E) dated 20/11/00.
In case of packages of confectionery weighing 20 gm or less which are also exempted from the declaration of ingredients, will be exempted from the declaration of "Animal Origin" even if it contains Gelatin provided that such declaration shall be given on the multi piece package in such a manner that the same is readable even without opening the package.

Provided further that when statement regarding addition of colours or flavours is displayed on the label in accordance with rule 24 and rule 64BB respectively, addition of such colours or flavours need not be mentioned in the list of ingredients :

Provided also that in case both colour and flavour are used in the product, one of the following combined statements in capital letters shall be displayed just beneath the list of ingredients on the label attached to any package of food so coloured and flavoured namely:-

(i) Contains permitted Natural Colour(s) and Added Flavour(s)

                                          OR

(ii) Contains Permitted Synthetic Food Colour(s) and added Flavour(s)

                                          OR

(iii) Contains permitted Natural and Synthetic Food Colour(s) and Added Flavour(s)

                                          OR

(iv) Contains Permitted Natural*/AND * Synthetic * Colour(s) and Added Flavour(s) (For the period upto and inclusive of 1st September, 2001).

(*Strike out whichever is not applicable)
[Provided further that when statement regarding addition of colours or flavours are displayed on the label in accordance with rule 24 and rule 64 Bb respectively addition of such colours or flavours need not be mentioned in the list of ingredients :

Provided also that in case both colour and flavour are used in the product, a combined statement in capital letters shall be displayed just beneath the list of ingredients on the label attached to any package of food so coloured and flavoured a below :-

CONTAINS PERMITTED NATURAL */AND * SYNTHETIC*
COLOURS AND ADDED FLAVOURS
(*Strike out whichever is not applicable)

In case of packages of confectionery weighing 20 gm or less, which are also exempted from the declaration of ingredients, will be exempted from the declaration of "Animal Origin" even if it contains Gelatin provided that such declaration shall be given on the multi piece package in such a manner that the same is readable even without opening the package.

NOTE :- A specific name shall be used for ingredients in the list of ingredients except that,-

(i) for ingredients falling in the respective classes, the following class titles may be used, namely:-
"edible fats, edible oils, spices and condiments, edible starches (except modified starches), vitamins and minerals, salts. However in case of curry powder or mixed masala whole or other such masala containing spices, either whole or powdered as major ingredient the names of spices used in the product be mentioned on the label in descending order of their composition by weight.

(ii) for substances falling the respective classes and appearing in the list of food additives permitted for use in foods generally, the following class titles may be used, namely antioxidants anticaking agents, flour improvers sequestering and buffering agents, bleaching agents, emulsifying and stabilizing agents, antifoaming agent, preservatives colours, flavours, vitamins, minerals and edible gums.
32 (c)(i) The name and complete address of the manufacturer and the manufacturing unit, if these are located at different places and in case the manufacturer is not the packer or bottler the name and address of the packing or bottling unitas the case may be.

(ii) where as article of food is manufactured or packed or bottled by an person or a company under the written authority of some other manufacture or company under his or its brand name the label shall carry the name and complete address of the manufacturing or packing or bottling unit as the case my be, and also the name and complete address of the manufacturer or the company for and on whose behalf it is manufactured or packed or bottled.

(iv) where an article of food is imported into India, the package of food shall also carry the name and address of the Importer in India.
Provided that where any food article manufactured outside is packed or bottled in India, the package containing the such food article shall also bear on the label the name of the country of origin of the food article and the name and complete address of the importer and the premises of the packing or bottling in India.
(e) A distinctive batch number or lot number or code number, either in numerical or alphabets or their combination representing the batch number or lot number or code number being preceded by the words "Batch No., or Lot No., or Lot or any distinguishing prefix.

Provided that in case of canned food, the batch number may be given at the bottom or on the lid of the container but the words Batch No. given at the bottom or on the lid shall appear on the body of the container.

(f) the month and year in which the commodity is manufacturer or prepared :
Provided that in case of package weighing 20 gm or less and liquid products marketed in bottles which are recycled for refilling particulars under clause (b) need not be specified.

Provided also that such declarations shall be given on the label of multipiece package either on the label of multipieces package or in a separate slip inside the multipiece package in such a manner that the same is readable even without opening the package.

Provided further that in case of carbonated water containers and the packages of biscuits confectionery and sweets, containing more than 60 gm., but not more than 120 gm and food packages weighting not more than 60 gm particulars under clause (d) and (e) need not be specified.

Provided also that in case of package containing bread and milk including sterilized milk, particulars under clause (e) need not be specified.

Provided also that in case of any package containing bread or liquid milk, sterilized or Ultra High Temperature treated milk, Soya milk, flavoured milk, any package containing dhokla, bhelpuri, pizza doughnuts, khoa, paneer or any uncanned package of fruits, vegetables, meat, fish or any other like commodity which as a short shelf life, the date month and year in which the commodity is manufactured or prepared or pre packed shall be mentioned on the label :

Provided also that in case of package containing containing confectionery weighing 20 gm or less the particulars under this clause need not be specified.

(g) the date of expiry in case of packages of aspertame which shall not be more than three years from the date of packing.

(h) The purpose of irradiation and licence number in case of Irradiated Food.

(i) The month and year in capital letters upto which the product is best for

consumption in the following manner, namely:-

Best Before ……………………. Months and Year

                                          Or

Best Before ……………………. Months From Packaging

                                          Or

Best Before ……………………. Months From Manufacture

                                          Or

Best Before upto month and year ……………. [For the period Or upto and]

Best Before within ………………….. months [inclusive of
From the Date of Packing /Manufacture 1st September 2001]

(Note ;- blank be filled up)
Provided that in case of wholesale packages the particulars under clause (b), (f), (g), (h) and this clause need not be specified :

Provided further that in case of package or bottle containing sterilized or Ultra High Temperature treated milk, Soya milk, any package containing bread, dhokla, bhelpuri, pizza, doughnuts, khoa, paneer, or any uncanned package of fruits, vegetable, meat, fish or any other like commodity, the declaration be made as follows :-

"BEST BEFORE ……….. DATE/MONTH/YEAR"

"BEST BEFORE ……….. DATE/MONTH/YEAR"

                                          OR

"BEST BEFORE ……….. DAYS FROM PACKAGING "

                                          OR

"BEST BEFORE ……….. DAYS FROM MANUFACTURE"

                                          OR

"BEST BEFORE UPTO ………..DATE/MONTH/YEAR [For the period upto and inclusive]

                                          OR

"BEST BEFORE WITHIN ……….. DAYS FROM THE [of 1st September 2001].

DATE OF PACKAGING / MANUFACTURE"

(Note : (i) blank be filled up)

(ii) Month and year may be used in numeral.

(iii) Year month be given in two digits.

Provided also that in case of a package containing confectionery weighing 20 gm or less the particulars under clause (i) may not be specified :

Provided also that the above declaration of best before consumption shall be not be applicable to be packages of Aspartame and Infant milk substitute and Infant food ;