The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued the regulations for sale of til oil (from north east), kangra tea and honey dew without Agmark.
Presently, these products can’t be sold without the Agmark tag on packages as per the prohibition regulations of the FSS Act.
The published regulations called the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restriction on Sales) Second Amendment Regulations, 2020, wherein the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restriction on Sales) Regulations, 2011, in regulation 2.3, sub-regulation 2.3.2 (relating to restriction on sale of Carbia Callosa and Honey dew), 2.3.9 (related to restriction on sale of til oil produced in Tripura, Assam and West Bengal) and sub-regulation 2.3.10 (related to restriction on sale of Kangra tea) shall be deleted.
At present, the prohibition regulations states that til oil (sesame oil) sourced from white sesame seeds, grown in Tripura, Assam and West Bengal whose standards differ from those specified for til oil shall be sold in sealed containers having Agmark label. Where this til oil is sold or offered for sale without having an Agmark label, the standard fixed for til oil shall apply.
For Kangra tea, the specification was that it shall be sold or offered for sale only when it has been graded or marked in compliance with the provisions of the Agricultural Produce (Grading and Marking) Act, 1937 (1 of 1937), and the guidelines formulated under it. And in the same manner, Carbia Callosa and Honey dew shall be sold only sealed containers bearing Agmark label only.
After the issuing of alert regarding the update of norms, the need of Agmark for sale of these products stands null and insignificant.