GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3137

TO BE ANSWERED ON 6TH DECEMBER, 2019

FSSAI LICENCE TO SALT MANUFACTURING COMPANIES

3137. SHRI ANANTKUMAR HEGDE:

(a) whether the salt manufacturing companies in the country are bound to have FSSAI licence and if so, the details thereof; 

(b) the list of companies manufacturing salt and their FSSAI licence status;

(c) whether the Government has laid down any rules or regulations for the permissible quantity of Iodine and other chemical substance to be added in the manufactured Salt, if so, the details thereof; and

(d) whether the Government is carrying out/has carried out any research on adverse effect of consumption of excessive Iodine and the chemicals present in manufactured Salt and if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND

FAMILY WELFARE

 (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a) & (b): Yes. Section 31 of Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 provides that no person shall commence or carry on any food business except under a licence. This covers salt manufacturers also. Details of Salt manufacturing units with active Central and State licenses are at Annexure.

(c): Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has notified Food Safety and Standards (Fortification of Foods) Regulations, 2018. These Regulations specify, inter-alia, standards for iodized salt and double fortified salt (with Iodine and Iron), which provides minimum as well as maximum limits of iodine/iron content to be added in the salt. Besides, standards of edible common salt have also been specified in Food Safety and Standards (Food Products standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011, which, inter-alia, specify the quality parameters as well as food additives which are permitted for use in salt.

(d): Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has informed that they have not carried out any study on adverse effect of consumption of excessive Iodine and the chemicals present in manufactured Salt.